Richard E Durham, SR 2004 Most Worshipful Grand Master Grand Lodge Free And Accepted Masons Of TN

Richard Eugene Durham Sr. was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 7th, 1934. The son of George William and Eva Pelfrey Durham, he was educated in the public schools of Hamilton County and graduated from Kirkman High School in 1952.

He married Joyce Morgan on December 26th, 1952 and they were blessed with four children, Starr Durham Alexander, Richard Durham Jr., Kim Durham Thomas and Traci Beth Durham. They are alos the proud Grandparents of April and Ashley Durham and Drew Thomas.

Richard was on e of the top sales representatives for Dyke Industries of Knoxville, Tennessee. He retired from Dyke Industries, Inc. in April of 1997 after a career that spanned 42 years in the building industry.

Richard and Joyce are members of East Ridge Baptist Church in East Ridge, Tennessee. He is an ordained Deacon in the Church and serves on several committees.

Brother Durham has been a member of the East Ridge Lions Club since 1969, and has had perfect attendance since becoming a member.

Brother Durham was raised a Master Mason on May 12th, 1956 in East Lake Lodge #698 and served as Worshipful Master in 1964 and 1987.

He served as Grand Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee with Most Worshipful Past Grand Master John Pigg in 1982, and has served on the board of custodians and the jurisprudence committee.

Companion Durham was exalted in Keystone Chapter #208 on June 9th, 1970 and received the order of High Priesthood on March 20th, 1989. He was Greeted in Hiram Council #116 on November 6th, 1971 and received the order of the silver trowel on March 20th, 1989. Sir Knight Durham was knighted in Chattanooga Commandery #32 on April 22nd, 1972 and was made a member of the Knight Crusader of the Cross on April 21, 1989. He received the order of Knight Commander on June 29th, 1989. He is a member of Cherokee York Rite College, and received the Knight York Cross of Honor in 1990. He received the order of the purple cross in 1995

Brother Durham received the Scottish Rite Degrees in Chattanooga Consistory in 1988. He is a member of Alhambra Shrine Center, The Red Cross of Constatine, Knight Masons, Allied Masonic Degree, Royal Order of Scotland, Tennessee Lodge of Research, Order of the East Lake Chapter #238, Eastern Star (Worthy Patron in 1966), Chattanooga area York Rite Association, Joe Foss Chapter #540 National Sojourners, Heroes of 76 and several other orders in the Chattanooga Area.

In the Grand Lodge Brother Durham was elected Junior Grand Warden on March 29th, 2001, and progressed each year being elected Most Worshipful Grand Master on March 25th, 2004

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