Marvin Eugene Leachman, PGM 1986-1987

Marvin Eugene Leachman, more popularly known as “Cotton”, was born in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, on February 15, 1928, the son of our late Brother James Fredrick and Ollie Mae Leachman. He was educated in the Birmingham Public Schools and later moved to Prichard, Alabama. In February, 1983, after more than thirty years of service with the Prichard Fire Department, he retired with the rank of Captain. He is, currently, self-employed as a painting and house-washing contractor. In July, 1946, Brother “Cotton” was married to the former Earline Goins, and they are the parents of five children and eight grandchildren. At the present time, they reside in the Eight Mile community and are very active in the Shady Pines Baptist Church of Whistler. He serves the Church as its Minister of Music.Brother Leachman began his Masonic career in Bowen Lodge No. 240, a little more than thirty years ago. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice on August 16, 1956; passed to the Degree

Ralph Harris Henderson, Sr., PGM 1985-1986

The final session of the 165th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Alabama selected Bro. R. Harris Henderson, Sr. Grand Master. He was installed at the final session November 20, 1985.

A member of Wilson Williams Lodge No. 351, Phenix City, Alabama, Bro. Henderson was initiated an Entered Apprentice on November 8, 1966 and was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on February 7, 1967. He served his Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1972 and was appointed Assistant Lecturer of District 20 by Grand Master J.E. Brackin. Grand Master Wilbur 0. Harden appointed him to the Committee on Work in 1976, where he served for seven years.

He served as head of all three of the Phenix City York Rite Bodies. Also, he served as Chaplain and Prelate of these Bodies. He is a member of the Knights York Cross of Honor, Bandar Grotto, Scottish Rite and St. Asaph Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine.

He is married to the former Faye Harvey. They have two children, Martha Ellis and Ralph H., Jr. He is a member of Lakewood Baptist Church where he is a Deacon and Sunday school teacher.

J. B. Robinson, Jr., PGM 1984-1985

The 164th Annual Communication of the Alabama Grand Lodge elevated Brother J. B. Robinson, Jr. to the highest office in Masonry at the final session, held November 21, 1984, in the Governor’s House Motel.

Brother Robinson was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Jefferson Valley Lodge No. 795 on January 19, 1950 and passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on February 2, 1950 and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on February 16, 1950. Five years later in June 1955, he was elected Master of his lodge, and served until June 1956. He also served as Treasurer and instructor for several years. He was appointed assistant Lecturer in 1961 and served as Junior Grand Deacon under Grand Master, Brother James Cooper. He served on the Committee on Work from 1977 until 1981 when he was elected Junior Grand Warden in the Grand Lodge Line.

His other Masonic affiliations include membership in the Bessemer York Rite Bodies and Zamora Shrine Temple where he is a member of the Knights of Mecca Unit. He is also a member of the Scottish Rite, and Eastern Star, and The Royal Order of Scotland.

He was born in Centreville, Ala. on December 22, 1923 and graduated from high school there. He married the former Annie Howell on July 14, 1948 and they have one daughter, Sharon, and one grandson, Jason. They attend the Baptist Church.
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Jack Smith, PGM 1983-1984

Brother Jack Smith was elevated to the highest office Masonry can bestow when the 163rd Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. at the closing session and was installed Wednesday, November 23, 1983.

Brother Smith made his start in Masonry when he was initiated an Entered Apprentice of Clarence Lodge No. 708, Sneads Cross Road, in Blount County. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason November 17, 1952, one month after he was initiated. He went on to serve his lodge three times as Worshipful Master. He received his Grand Lodge Proficiency Certificate Dec. 1973 and M. W. Grand Master
Joseph Brackin gave him his first appointment, that of assistant Lecturer of District 9A, where he served through 1975. He was Lecturer of District 9 during 1976 when he was appointed to the Committee on Work. He was serving the Committee as Chairman when he was elected Junior Grand Warden.

The son of Jessie David and Lona Smith, Brother Smith was born in Liberty, Blount County, Alabama on March 21, 1925. He received his education in the Blount County schools before entering the U. S. Army, where he served during World War II. He was discharged in early 1946. He returned to Horton, Alabama where he lives today. He furthered his education by attending University of Alabama (night school) for a period of two years.

On July 24, 1946 he married the former Nelladeen McMurry and they have two sons, Kenneth Jearold Smith of Talladega and Johnny E. Smith, of Horton. They are all Baptist.
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Charter Lee Nicholson, PGM 1982-1983

Brother Nicholson began his Masonic career by being initiated in Nunn-Oden Lodge No. 398 in Hartselle on May 9,1969, passed May 27,1969, and raised May 31,1969. He received his Certificate of Proficiency on the Ritual in July 1970. He served his Lodge as Master during the 1971-72 Masonic Year. He has since served his Lodge as Treasurer and Secretary.

He began serving the Grand Lodge when he was appointed a Member of the Committee on Special Gifts to the Masonic Home in November 1972. He was appointed Lecturer of the Second District in November of 1973. He has served on the Committee on Work from November 1974 until November 1980. He chaired that committee in the 1978-79 Masonic Year. He is also a member of the Birmingham Scottish Rite Bodies and the Northwest Alabama proficiency Club of which he is a Past-president.

Brother Nicholson was born the son of Brother Garvice G. Nicholson and Lucille Perkins Nicholson on February 20, 1941 in Walker County, Alabama.

He attended public schools in Marion and Morgan Counties graduating from Morgan County High School in Hartselle in 1958. He began his undergraduate study at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and finished at Auburn University receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1962. After some graduate work at the University in Birmingham, He returned to Hartselle and since has been associated with his father and uncle in the family owned Ford Dealership.

Brother Nicholson and his wife, the former Carolyn Rodgers of Hartselle, are the parents of three children: Cambia, Charter, Jr., and Christy.

Hermon Webb Taylor, PGM 1981-1982

Brother Taylor was born to Brother Harvey H. and Lillie Webb Taylor on March 14,1924, at Columbia, Alabama. He is a devoted Christian member of the Baptist Church at Webb, Alabama. He graduated from Houston County High School at Columbia in 1942, and served in the United States Navy during World War II.

He married the former Opal Wilson in 1948, and they are the parents of four daughters, Mrs. Barbara Love; Mrs. Kay Duke; Mrs. Deborah Turner; and Mrs. Theresa Parker, and twin sons, Herman Kent and Hiram Keith.

Following his discharge from the Navy Brother Taylor was employed with the Veterans Administration and the Bay Line Railroad prior to his present occupation of Building Inspector for the City of Dothan. He is serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama Chapter of the American Society of Building and Construction Inspectors, and is a Past President of the Society.

Brother Taylor began his Masonic career on June 27, 1945, when he was initiated in Columbia Lodge 135. He was Worshipful Master of Columbia Lodge in 1964, and has served the Grand Lodge as Lecturer of District 28 in 1967, and member of the Committee on Work from 1968 to 1978, of which he was chairman in 1973. He was elected Junior Grand Warden on November 21, 1979.

James F. Glasgow, PGM 1980-1981

Born September 7, 1938 to J. Fletcher and Edna Dailey Glasgow at Siluria, Alabama, Brother Glasgow is a member of the Siluria Baptist Church, attended the public schools at Siluria, and graduated from Thompson High School.

He is married to the former Billie Sue Henson of Wilton, Alabama, and they have a daughter, Vickie, and two sons, Jamie and Tim. The Glasgows reside in Alabaster. Brother Glasgow served our Country in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborn Bn. in the VietNam conflict.

He attended Jefferson State College; the FBI National Academy; Alabama Police Academy; Southern Police Institute; and Federal Narcotics School. He was employed by the City of Alabaster as Assistant Chief of Police, and by Shelby County as Chief Deputy to the Sheriff prior to his election in 1978 to the office of Shelby County Sheriff in which he is now serving. In addition to his duties as Sheriff of Shelby County, and Grand Master of Masons in Alabama, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Sheriffs’ Boys and Girls Ranches; the Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Board at the University of Alabama; the Shelby County YMCA Advisory Board; and the Advisory Board of Kings Ranch.

Brother Glasgow entered Freemasonry in Corinthian Lodge 462 at Alabaster, on March 22,1966. He served the Lodge as Master in 1970, and the Grand Lodge as Lecturer of District 12. He was elected to the office of Junior Grand Warden on November 22, 1978.

James G. Macon, PGM 1979-1980

Brother James G. Macon, the son of Sarah and Mallam Macon, was born in Pell City, St. Clair County, Alabama, on November 27, 1924, where he resides today. Growing into manhood in the Pell City area, he received his education in the St. Clair County Public School System before entering the U. S. Army, where he served during World War II. He was discharged from the U. S. Army at the conclusion of the war and returned to Pell City to become a Civil Service employee on a near-by U. S. Government Installation. He has since retired with more than 30 years service.

Brother Macon met Miss Charleen Phillips, of Ashville, a dozen miles to the north of Pell City, and they were married November 9, 1946. They have one daughter, Mrs. Sherry Macon Polk, who also resides in Pell City. They attend the First Baptist Church of Pell City.

Grand Master Macon has been dedicated and loyal to Masonry since he received his Blue Lodge Degrees in Ben M. Jacobs Lodge No. 643. He was accepted and initiated an Entered Apprentice 23 years ago, on March 1, 1956. He was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on March 15, 1956 and on March 22, 1956, he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. He was elected Worshipful Master to serve Ben M. Jacobs Lodge during the Masonic year 1961-62. On August 16, 1962, he earned his Grand Lodge Proficiency Certificate and two years later, in 1964, he received his first Grand Lodge appointment as an Assistant Lecturer from Most Worshipful Grand Master Tolbert D. Sharp. He was again appointed Assistant Lecturer of District 9 by Most Worshipful Grand Master James W. Cooper in 1967 and he served the duties of that position through 1969. Brother Macon was first appointed Lecturer of District 9 by Most Worshipful Grand Master Marvin Lynn in 1970 where he served until he was appointed to the Committee on Work for 1972 and 1973. He was then re-appointed Lecturer of District 9 by Most Worshipful Grand Master James M. Eidson, Sr. and a year later, in 1975, he was returned to the Committee on Work, in 1975. He was serving the Committee when he was elected to the office of Junior Grand Warden at the Grand Lodge Session of November 1976. On November 21, 1979, Brother Macon was elevated to the exalted office of Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Alabama.

Brother Macon has also been active in many of the appendant bodies of Masonry. He received the Degrees and Orders of the York Rite in Woodlawn York Rite Bodies, of Birmingham, on May 16, 1975 and a year later, on May 22, 1976, he received the degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies. In 1975, he became a Noble of Zamora Shrine Temple, of Birmingham, and is a member of Zamora’s “Knights of Mecca” Unit. He is a charter member of Vulcan Chapter No. 22, Knight Masons, in Birmingham and is a member of Mobile’s Albert J. Youndt Chapter No. 511, National Sojourners. He is also a member of Dinar Grotto, of Birmingham, having been initiated a Prophet in special ceremonies conducted by Grand Monarch Gerald N. Steeves, in Mobile, on March 2, 1978. He is an active member and a Past Patron of St. Clair Chapter No. 437, Order of the Eastern Star.
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Gerald S. Borden, PGM 1978-1979

Gerald S. Borden, the son of the late James Edmer David Borden, Sr., and Anna Lee Borden King of Royalton, Illinois, was born in Russellville, Alabama, on October 17, 1941. He attended Russellville Elementary and Senior High Schools and is a graduate of International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Pennsylvania, with a degree in Business Administration.  He has been employed by the Gas Board of Russellville for 15 years and has been manager of that department since February 1972.

Brother Borden is married to the former Jo Ann Hester of Sheffield. They have four daughters, Teresa, age 15, Lisa, age 14, and twins, Beverly and Ginger, age 3. Both Teresa and Lisa attend Russellville Senior High School. Brother Borden and his family reside in Russellville, Alabama, and attend Southside Baptist Church.

Brother Borden began his Masonic career October 14, 1965 when he was initiated an Entered Apprentice of Russellville Lodge and in just a little less than two months, on November 27, 1965, he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. In June of 1969, he was elected and served his Lodge as Worshipful Master. Upon completing his term as leader of his Lodge in 1970, he was awarded his first Grand Lodge appointment. He was appointed Assistant Lecturer of District 4, of Group 2, which he served for a year before being appointed Lecturer of the District for the year 1972. He served as Lecturer again in 1973 before being appointed to the Committee on Work in 1974. In 1975 he served as Chairman of the Committee on Work. In November 1975, he was elected Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden, and was installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master, November 22, 1978.

Brother Borden is a Charter member and Past President of the Northwest Alabama Proficiency Club. He is a member of The Huntsville Household, Master Chefs of the Temple.

Robert Charles Coley, PGM 1977-1978

Robert Charles Coley, the son of our- late Brother Oscar Floyd and Vivian Allen Coley, was born at Tarrant City, Jefferson County, Alabama, June 1, 1930. As he grew up, he attended elementary schools in Gadsden, Grove Hill and Mobile before he earned his diploma from Murphy High School, of Mobile, in May, 1947. He attended Birmingham’s Howard College (now Samford University) and the University of Alabama, in Birmingham, prior to his enlistment in the military in September 1950. He served in the U. S. Army during the Korean conflict. Receiving his discharge from the military, Brother Coley became a civilian employee of the U. S. Government, where he has served for more than twenty years. He is currently employed with the Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Florida.

He is married to the former Katherine “Kitty” Maits, of Mobile, and they have two daughters and two sons. Their son, Dan, resides with them in the Hollinger’s Island Community, South of Mobile. They attend the Hollinger’s Island Baptist Church.

Grand Master Coley received his Blue Lodge Degrees in Eureka Lodge No. 64, Greenville, Alabama. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice August 2, 1954, was Passed and, on September 6, 1954, he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. In July 1959, he transferred his membership into Guy T. Smith Lodge No. 883, Hollinger’s Island, Mobile, where he served as Worshipful Master during 1962-1963.

Brother Coley’s service in the Grand Lodge began in November 1964, when Most Worshipful Grand Master Tolbert D. Sharp appointed him a member of the Committee of Lodges Under Dispensation. His service on this Committee spanned five years, the last two as Chairman. He was appointed Lecturer of District 32 in 1969 and served as assistant Lecturer of the District in 1971-1972. Upon the creation of District 33, in November 1972, Brother Coley received the appointment as first Lecturer of the new District. Appointed to the Committee on Work in 1973, he served until his election as Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden in 1976, and on November 23, 1977, Brother Coley was elevated to the exalted office of Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Alabama.

He received the Scottish Rite Degrees in 1960 and served as Venerable Master of the Mobile Lodge of Perfection in 1968 and in October 1973, the Scottish Rite Supreme Council (Southern Jurisdiction) honored him with the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour. He received the Degrees and Orders of the Mobile York Rite Bodies in August 1974, and in August 1977, he was created a Knight Companion of St. Bernard Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine and he is a member of Abba Temple Shrine in Mobile.

Brother Coley is a charter member and Past President of the Alabama Masonic Historical Society; Past President of the Mobile County Masonic Breakfast Club; a charter member of the Mobile County Masters and Wardens Club and Albert J. Youndt Chapter No. 511, National Sojourners, Inc. He is, also, an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Florida and the Florida Lodge of Masonic Research.

Brother Coley is a member of Hollinger’s Island Chapter No. 480, Order of the Eastern Star and is Past Patron, serving in 1976-1977. He has also been elected to membership in Wisteria Court No. 6, Order of the Amaranth, in Mobile.
In addition to his Masonic activities, Brother Coley is a very avid and active Citizens Band radio operator, and holds membership in several CB Radio Clubs and Associations.

Wilbur O. Harden, PGM 1976-1977

Wilbur O. Harden, the son of Clarence O. and Emma Edwards Harden, was born in Titus, Elmore County, Alabama, September 24, 1916. Growing up in Elmore County, Brother Harden acquired his early education in the Titus Elementary and- Junior High Schools. Upon completing Junior High School, he attended Wetumpka High School, where he graduated in May 1934. He went on to study for two years at Auburn University and, also, attended Massey Business College in Montgomery. Brother Harden entered professional baseball, playing in the Minor Leagues for part of two years, 1938-1939, and was employed as a salesman for three years with Armour Packing Company and Cudahy Packing Company, of Montgomery, before enlisting in the U. S. Army Air Corps where he served from October 1942 until February 1946.

Receiving his discharge from the Army Air Corps, he went into the building material and contracting business in Opelika, Alabama, in 1946. Two years later, in September of 1948, he returned to Elmore County to operate a general merchandising business at Wallsboro, Alabama, until 1958. In June of 1952, he went to work for Alabama Power Company, where he was employed in the Security Department of Jordan Dam, on the Coosa River. He retired September 30, 1976.

Brother Harden married Miss Doris Garrett, of Selma, Alabama, August 24, 1940. They have one daughter, Mrs. Gary (Joy) Strong and two granddaughters, Emily and Wendy Strong.

Brother Harden’s years of dedicated Masonic Service were launched when his petition was accepted and Wetumpka Lodge No. 39 initiated him an Entered Apprentice, January 25, 1949.  He was Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft, February 8, 1949 and, on February 19, 1949, he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. He served the stations and offices of the Lodge and was installed Worshipful Master in 1957. He served as Worshipful Master again in 1964 and in 1968 and assisted in the formation of the Past Masters Club of Wetumpka Lodge.  He also contributed to the creation of the Elmore County Masonic Association and its annual Masonic Day Observance. He was made a Life Member of Wetumpka Lodge January 17, 1975.

He received his first Grand Lodge appointment in 1964, when Most Worshipful Grand Master William Wallace, Jr. selected him to fulfill the duties of Lecturer of District Twenty. He very capably served as Lecturer until, in 1970, he was chosen to be the member of the Committee on Work from Group Four. He served on the Committee on Work until he was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1974. In 1975, he was elevated to the office of Deputy Grand Master.

Brother Harden is a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Montgomery; the York Rite Bodies of Montgomery and St. Asaph Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, in Montgomery. He is a member of Bandar Grotto, Montgomery, which he served as Monarch in 1968. He is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served Fort Toulouse Chapter No. 448 of Wetumpka, as Worthy Patron in 1967 and again in 1968. He is Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma near the Grand Lodge of Alabama.

Brother Harden and Doris, reside on the shores of Lake Jordan, Titus, Alabama. He is a member of the Titus Methodist Church

Thomas B. Whaley, PGM 1975-1976

Thomas B. Whaley was born June 23, 1907, in Houston, Texas, the son of Samuel E. and Jessie Givens Whaley. In 1912, as he approached school age, Brother Whaley’s family moved into the Birmingham area, where he attended elementary schools in Birmingham and Warrior, Alabama, and graduated from Warrior Senior High School. Also, he attended special classes to study sales and store management. Brother Whaley was employed as manager of a chain grocery store before accepting employment with United States Steel Corporation, where he learned the trade of “Die-Setter”. Later, he became Labor Foreman and Relief Foreman, Cleaning Lines and Shear Lines. He retired as Director of Packaged Products, Cold Reduction Department, with a record of 42 years of continuous service.

Brother Whaley met Miss Laura Mae McDonald, of Birmingham, Alabama, and they were married May 2, 1931. They have two children, one daughter, Mrs. Dorothy M. Shields and one son, James T. Whaley, both of Birmingham. He is a charter member of Parkview Baptist Church where he formerly taught the Intermediate Sunday School Class.

Brother Whaley began his service to Masonry thirty years ago when he was accepted and initiated an Entered Apprentice of King Hiram Lodge No. 774, Birmingham, on August 20, 1945. He was Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft September 3, 1945 and, fourteen days later, on September 17, 1945, he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. He served through the Chairs of King Hiram Lodge No. 774 and was installed Worshipful Master in June 1953. In 1955, he accepted the duties and responsibilities of Instructor and Director of the Ritualistic work of King Hiram Lodge, a position he served for four years.

In 1959, Most Worshipful Grand Master Gordon L. Evatt gave him his first Grand Lodge Appointment. He was appointed Assistant Lecturer of the Thirteenth Masonic District. He served Grand Lodge Appointments continuously from that time until he was elected Junior Grand Warden in November 1974. Among his many appointments, he served as a District Lecturer; a member of the Committee on Work, as Grand Marshal for Most Worshipful Grand Master James W. Cooper and as Chairman of the “Pennies Program” of the Alabama Masonic Home Endowment Fund.

Brother Whaley was elected and served as Senior Grand Warden in 1975 and was elevated to the exalted office of Grand Master of Masons in Alabama on November 19, 1975.

Brother Whaley is a Life member of the Birmingham. Metro York Rite Bodies and is a Life Sponsor of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. He is, also, a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Birmingham; a member of Bell Ash Chapter No. 156, Order of the Eastern Star and is Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Rio Grande De Sol, Brazil, near the Grand Lodge of Alabama.

Brother Whaley and his wife, Laura, reside at 4636 Court R, in the City of Birmingham, Alabama. [ALGL PROCEDINGS]