Mason of the Year Award

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor 

WB Gregory J. Knott 

Charlene and Carl Lewis

As Worshipful Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), it was my pleasure at our most recent stated meeting to announce the creation of the Carl D. Lewis Mason of the Year Award. This award will be given annually by the WM, to a member of Ogden Lodge for outstanding service.

Carl D. Lewis was a 69-year member of Ogden Lodge who passed away in December 2018. He was our long-time Tyler and was serving as Marshall for the current year. Carl was one of the first people to greet me every month, always asked how the family was doing and was a true pleasure to be around. He was just simply an outstanding person.

As a member of the Greatest Generation, Carl served in WW 2 as a ball turret gunner on a B-17, had a career with Standard Oil, was a member of the Ogden Methodist Church, Ogden Lions Club and the Ogden American Legion. He and his wife Charlene Denhart Lewis were married for more than 72 years and had three sons, seven grand-children and 10 great-grandchildren.

So, it only seemed fitting to create an award that focuses on how Carl lived his life, serving others.

The plaque that will be placed in Ogden Lodge reads, “In memory of our esteemed brother Carl D. Lewis in honor of his service to his country, community and lodge.” 

WM Greg Knott presents RWB Denver R. Phelps with the Carl D. Lewis Mason of the Year Award

I chose RWB Denver R. Phelps as the first recipient for this new award. Denver has worked tirelessly in helping mentor countless numbers of new brothers over the years. He has served as WM of Ogden Lodge No. 754, Homer Lodge No. 199, DDGM, Assistant Area DGM and was a lodge Secretary for years. Additionally, he is a Navy Veteran and extremely active in the American Legion and once served as the national Sargent at Arms for the American Legion. He was Fire Chief for the Ogden-Royal Fire Department, serves as an election judge and in numerous other capacities in serving the community.

I think Carl would be pleased with Denver as the first recipient of this award.

~GJK 

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Worshipful Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 in Ogden (IL) and a plural member of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC.