General Grand Chapter Ephraim Kirby Award (Established 2014)

The Ephraim Kirby Award provides an opportunity to recognize particular Companions who have attained past presiding rank in their Grand York Rite bodies (Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery) and who have then gone on to continue their work and commitment to service even beyond the term of their office, or beyond the normal boundaries of dedication. This award is named for the first Most Excellent General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, who served from 1798-1804. In the first year (2014), up to three candidates were recipients; in the second year, two; and in subsequent years, only one may be awarded per Grand Chapter. The Ephraim Kirby Award corresponds to the Order of the Secret Vault for the General Grand Council and the Knight Commander of the Temple for Commandery’s Grand Encampment.

General Grand Chapter Distinguished Service Award in Silver

The General Grand Chapter Distinguished Service Medal (Silver) is presented for outstanding service for the York Rite, particularly for Royal Arch Masonry within a particular York Rite Region. Nominations may be made by any Royal Arch Mason or by a Grand Chapter, submitted through the Deputy General Grand High Priest for the York Rite Region, where the proposed recipient holds his membership.

General Grand Chapter Distinguished Service Award in Bronze (Established 1951)

In 1951, the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons established the Distinguished Service Medal in Bronze to be awarded in recognition of the recipient’s outstanding and meritorious service to Royal Arch Masonry other than serving as a Grand Chapter Officer. The Bronze Medal corresponds to the Cryptic Mason of the Year for the General Grand Council and the Knight Templar Cross of Honor for Commandery’s Grand Encampment. It cannot be awarded to a Past Grand High Priest or a Companion serving as one of the “progressive” elected Grand Chapter Officers. Only one may be awarded each year per Grand Chapter.

YearCompanionChapterNumberAward
1951George S. EdmundsZeredathahNo. 35GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1952William Melang, Sr.AdoniramNo. 21GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1953Schuyler W. WoodTuscanNo. 42GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1954William F. PrettymanJames F. AllenNo. 33GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1955Harry O. CaseyWashington, Fells PointNo. 01GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1956C. Norman JeffersonTalbotNo. 22GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1957George Steedman YostSt. John’sNo. 19GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1958Thomas S. GiffordSalemNo. 18GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1959George C. BairdTuscanNo. 42GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1960Leland C. NoelConcordiaNo. 01GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1962Earl H. CourtneyDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1963Conrad J. RaiderBaltimoreNo. 40GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1964Cyril H. YorkKeystoneNo. 32GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1965Harry SilerHarfordNo. 43GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1966Dixon W. HallMarylandNo. 38GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1967Carl N. CollinsAdoniramNo. 21GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1968Rowan F. ErbJames F. AllenNo. 33GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1969Albert B. ClarkeBelvidereNo. 39GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1970Frank WhiteJerusalemNo. 09GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1971Vernon A. EaveyIthielNo. 27GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1972Robert B. AtwellMt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1973Edward W. VansantEdentonNo. 36GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1974Hulbert G. FoutzIthielNo. 27GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1975Houston Todd HillTuscanNo. 42GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1976Louis T. Lenderking, Jr.BaltimoreNo. 40GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1977James T. LautenschlagerDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1978William E. LautenschlagerPhoenixNo. 07GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1979Robert W. MavityTalbotNo. 22GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1980Lloyd O. EshenourBaltimoreNo. 40GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1981Charles H. CoverJerusalemNo. 9GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1982Atwood R. WynnBaltimoreNo. 40GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1983James J. Morgan, Jr.ConcordiaNo. 01GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1984Robert B. WoodsideMt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1985Thomas E. WeirKeystoneNo. 32GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1986Arthur D. SellersJames F. AllenNo. 33GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1987Clinton D. DodsonBelvidereNo. 39GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1988Gordon A. DavidsMt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1989Russell E. TazelaarYorkNo. 44GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1990William R. LoweIthielNo. 27GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1991Chester A. WalkTuscanNo. 42GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1992Donald M. MillerDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1993Thomas J. MortimerMt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1994Howard G. StottlemeyerIthielNo. 27GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1995Robert R. EckellYorkNo. 44GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1996James B. CokerSt. John’sNo. 19GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1997John O. QuillenEdentonNo. 36GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1998John F. Siegert, Jr.BaltimoreNo. 40GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
1999Jack R. FrazierBaltimoreNo. 40GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2000Robert O. Reynolds, Jr.Mt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2001William E. ZentgrafBaltimoreNo. 40GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2002William G. GulleyMt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2003Frank Olah, Jr.St. John’sNo. 19GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2004Louis F. Bandell, Jr.PhoenixNo. 45GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2005Richard P. NaegeleDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2006Robert B. LumbertConcordiaNo. 01GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2007Robert E. YoungDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2008Eugene RaczEdentonNo. 36GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2009William J. BaldwinCarrollNo. 31GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2010Patrick A. CurtisYorkNo. 44GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2011Randall L. WatsonDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2012Gordon P. GrabusDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2013Robert W. HamiltonSalemNo. 18GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2014Charles KennedyEnochNo. 23GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2015Christian Edward JensonEdentonNo. 36GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2016Michael G. FabyDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2017Arthur H. TawesChesapeakeNo. 17GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2018William C. EppigDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2019John M. ListerMt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2020Andrew MartinezMt. VernonNo. 25GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2021Dennis EwingDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2022William MillerPhoenixNo. 07GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2023A. Dean Bert, IIIEdentonNo. 36GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
2024Kris D. BrownJames F. AllenNo. 33GGC Distinguished Service Award Bronze
Bennie George Owens, PGHPGGC Distinguished Service Award Silver
Edward Addison Foreman, Jr., PGHP – DGGHP/NE Director of WorkGGC Distinguished Service Award Silver
Vernon H. Huebschman, PGHP – DGGHP/NE GGCoHDruidNo. 28GGC Distinguished Service Award Silver
2014Bennie George. OwensGGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2014Louis F. Bandell, Jr.PhoenixNo. 45GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2014Stephen J. Ponzillo, IIIGGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2014Vernon H. HuebschmanDruidNo. 28GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2015Frederick A. SpicerConcordiaNo. 01GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2015Richard P. NaegeleDruidNo. 28GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2016Clifton R. FrielGGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2017Robert B. LumbertConcordiaNo. 01GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2018Randall L. WatsonDruidNo. 28GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2019Edward A. Foreman, Jr.GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2020John MaclayGGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2021Bruce G. ColburnConcordiaNo. 01GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2022William C. EppigDruidNo. 28GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2023Robert ChaseDruidNo. 28GGC Ephraim Kirby Award
2024John H. AustinJames F. AllenNo. 33GGC Ephraim Kirby Award