Richard B. Barnett, IGO
[Grand Council], EGO [Grand Commandery]
Excellent Companion Richard B. Barnett was in 1927 at Alton. After graduating from East Alton - Wood River Community High School in 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, whereupon he was assigned to the Army of Occupation of Korea, with the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division (a/k/a “Bayonet”), until 1947. On 17 August 1947 he married the former Nancy Ames. Together, they have four children. He attended Montana State University (now University of Montana) at Missoula, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1951. He was employed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and was stationed at Island Park, Idaho, for two years. He then moved to Madison, Illinois, where he was the acting plant superintendent for the American Creosoting Kettle River Plant for a year. Then, for four years, he was employed as a cartographer/draftsman for Engineering Services (later Surdex Corporation) in Saint Louis, Missouri. He attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville part-time from 1958 until 1964, at the completion of which, he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education. From 1958 to 1984, he was employed by the Granite City School District as an elementary teacher and principal.
He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on 28 May 1975 in Triple Lodge No. 835, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Illinois, in Granite City. He demitted to Collinsville Lodge No. 712, in Collinsville, and served as Worshipful Master in 1998.
In
1976,
Excellent Companion Barnett was advanced to
Mark Master and exalted to the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch
Mason
in Granite City, in
Granite City Chapter 221 whom he served as Excellent High Priest in 1979, later supervised as
as District Deputy Grand High Priest for several years. He has also been Granite City Chapter’s secretary since
1981. He has held grand rank in the Grand Chapter of Illinois as Excellent Grand Chaplain in 1985 and again in 1991; and as
Excellent Grand Organist in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, and again in 2006.
Our Excellent Grand Organist was greeted as a Select Master in Saint Clair Council No. 61, Cryptic Masons of Illinois, in Granite City, serving as their Thrice Illustrious Master in 1979. He began his current tenure as Saint Clair Council’s secretary in 1981, and was later appointed District Inspector, serving in that capacity for several years. He was honoured as Cryptic Mason of the Year in 1991. He currently serves as Illustrious Grand Organist of the Grand Council in addition to his counterpart role in the Grand Chapter.
He was dubbed and created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple in East Saint Louis (later Emmanuel) Commandery No. 81, Knights Templar of the State of Illinois, in Granite City, on 25 September 1976, over whom he served as Eminent Commander in 1979 and as recorder since 1981. The Grand Commandery awarded him the Knight Templar Cross of Honour in 2000. Not surprisingly, he also wears the chapeau of the Eminent Grand Organist.
In recognition of his having presided as a Worshipful Master, Excellent High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master, and Eminent Commander, Richard was received into Illinois Priory No. 11 as a Knight of the York Cross of Honour on 26 January 2000.
Richard is a member of Saxa Rubra Conclave, Military and Masonic Order of the Red Cross of Constantine & the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre & Saint John the Evangelist; and Pathros Tabernacle LVIII, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, whom he served as Preceptor in 1993.
Excellent Companion Barnett was installed into the degree of Knight of the East and West in Earl of Torrell Council 24, Knight Masons U.S.A., in Springfield in March 1984, and joined Shamrock Council No. 43 in February 1992.
He is a member of Cahokia Mounds Council No. 225, Allied Masonic Degrees, and was received into the order of Knight of the Red Branch of Eri in 1990. He is also a member of Southern Illinois York Rite College No. 33 and received the Order of the Purple Cross in 1988.
Excellent Companion Barnett was created a 32° Scottish Rite Freemason and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in 1975 in the Valley of Southern Illinois, where he served as Sovereign Prince of Cahokia Council, Princes of Jerusalem, in 1987, and as Thrice Potent Master of Saint Clair Lodge of Perfection in 1996. The Illinois Council of Deliberation presented him the Meritorious Service Award in 1987, and he was coroneted a 33° Freemason and Inspector General Honorary in 1989 by the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America. He was the class honouree at the 198th Reunion on the fall of 2002. He is currently the Prior of Mississippi Valley Consistory, holding that office since 1993.
He was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Ainad Shriners, A.A.O.N.M.S., in East Saint Louis, in 1975. Over the years, he has been a member of both the Krazy Klowns unit and the Highlanders (pipes and drums) unit.
Richard is a former member of Granite City Chapter 650, Order of the Eastern Star, in Granite City.
He was awarded membership in Egyptian Preceptory of the Legion of Honour by Illinois DeMolay on 22 April 1987.
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This site was last updated 05/11/08