Clovis Lodge No. 417 Past Masters

1960 - 1984

This list is a work in progress and if anyone has pictures or information on any of these past masters, please contact the Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge Secretary so that your information and pictures can be added to this page.

(numbers refer to findagrave.com memorial links)

1960 W. D. Darby (1917 - 1983)  157805852 Brother Darby petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry on February 4, 1951.  Brother Darby started his working career as a barber and by the time he petitioned Clovis Lodge, he was working for Southern Pacific Rail Road as a railway car inspector.  During his year as Master, Clovis Lodge celebrated it 50th anniversary with the help of our Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Senior Grand Warden. 

The Lodge also continued its tradition of sojourning to Big Creek and conferring a Third Degree on an Edison employee with the help of the Edison Masonic Club.

During his year as Master, Clovis Lodge conferred 21 First degrees, 21 Second Degrees and 25 Third Degrees.  At the close of his year, Clovis Lodge had 558 members.

1961 Avon C. Reyburn   (1921 - 2002) Brother Avon Reyburn is one of the nine Reyburns who are members of Clovis Lodge, including his father, four uncles and three brothers.  Brother Emory Reyburn was, in 1961, the senior surviving Past Master, having been Master in 1920.

1962  Alvin Hustin January Jr. (1928 - 1977)  157815514 Brother January petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry in September of 1952.  At that time he indicated that he was an apprentice lineman for P G & E.  He worked for P G & E for 26 years  with the last 11 as the manager of the Oakhurst, CA office.  Alvin's father, Alvin H. January Sr. was raised in Clovis Lodge on July 5, 1956.

During his year as Master, he conferred 10 First degrees, 17 Second Degrees and 20 Third Degrees.  By the time his year as Master was over, Clovis Lodge had 576 members.  The decrease in membership from the prior year was due to the death of 10 members.

1963 Gerald Allan Sharer (1922 - 2012) 157816515 Brother Sharer petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry in May of 1954.  From 1943 to 1946 he served in the U.S. A Navy.  He then commenced working at Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

During his year as Master, he conferred 8 First Degrees, 13 Second Degrees and 14 Third Degrees.  At the end of his term as Master, Clovis Lodge had 574 members.

1964 Elijah Glen Mosier (1912 - 2000) 41396698 Brother Mosier petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry in September of 1953.  At the time he indicated in his application that he was a lineman for Pacific Gas & Electric Company.  From 1943 to 1945 he served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee.

During his year as Master, Clovis Lodge conferred 21 first degrees, 14 second degrees and 10 third degrees.  At the end of his term as Master, Clovis Lodge had 572 members.

1965 Fred Markus (1915 - 1998) Brother Markus petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry on January 7, 1952.  In his application he indicated that his occupation was that of a tile setter.

During his year as Master, Clovis Lodge initiated 10, passed 11 and raised 11 Master Masons.  At the end of his term as Master, Clovis Lodge had 574 members.

1966 Roy Stanley Harris  Brother Harris was born in Mounmoth, California in 1928.  He petitioned Clovis Lodge for the degrees of Masonry in April of 1956 and was raised a Master Mason on November 19, 1956.  In his application he indicated that he was a lineman for P G & E. 

During his year as Master, Clovis Lodge conferred 10 first degrees, 8 second degrees and raised 11 men to the sublime degree of Master Mason.  At the end of Brother Harris's year as Master, Clovis Lodge had 580 members.

 Brother Harris received his Golden Veterans Award on December 14, 2016.

1967 John Steven Rider (1916 - 1976) 158141689 Brother Rider petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry on February 8, 1969.  At the time of his application, he indicated that he was in the farming business.  Prior to that he had been in the lumber industry and before that he was a bearing salesman. 

During his year as Master, Clovis Lodge initiated 13, passed 11 and raised 12 Master Masons.  At the end of his term as Master, Clovis Lodge had 588 members.

 1968 Guy Ray Carmichael (1924 - 1991) 157834056 Brother Carmichael petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry in 1959.  He was initiated January 21, 1960, passed on May 26 and raised on October 27, 1960. 

Brother Guy was a metal welder and after twice serving active duty in the U.S. Navy reserve, came to Fresno as plant superintendant for Independent Metal Products in December of 1957.  He was a veteran of both WW II and the Korean Conflict.  At the time of his death, he was the proprietor of Clovis-Madera Equipment.

1969 Coleman Davis " C D" Irby Jr. (1918 - 2008)  Brother Irby petitioned Clovis Lodge in 1959 and received all of his degrees that year.  While progressing through the officer's line, it became obvious that Brother Irby was an excellent ritualist.  During his year as Sr. Warden, he gave the "long form" 3rd degree lecture on a regular basis.  It was, as if, he was in competition with Las Palmas Master Len Gottner as to who could give it first. 

Brother Irby worked as a mechanic in the cotton gin business.

On December 10, 1983 he was Invested with the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in the Scottish Rite of Masonry.

Several years before his death, he returned to live in Tennessee, his birth state.  Here he held dual membership with Woodlawn Lodge No. 211 in Bartlett, Tennessee. 

1970 Faytie Ray Shilling  (1929 - 2019)  Ray Shilling was born the son of a sharecroper in Arkansas.  After serving in the US Navy as a Seebee, where he learned his trade, he moved to Fresno, CA.  Brother Ray petitioned Clovis Lodge for the degrees of Masonry on December 13, 1964.  He was initiated in Clovis Lodge on February 18, 1965, passed on April 22 and raised on November 4, 1965.

Brother Ray was a sheet metal worker for 20 years before being elected Business Manager for his local Sheet Metal Workers Union.  He was active in union affairs and appeared on local radio programs when union topics were being discussed. 

Brother Ray took a demit from Clovis Lodge in November of 2011.

1971 Albert Day Kerr (1931 - 2005) 157870461 Brother Kerr, a Fresno native, petitioned Clovis Lodge on December 8, 1965.  He received all of his degrees in 1966, having been raised on May 19, 1966.

He worked for the State Compensation Insurance Fund stating off as a claims adjuster and eventually becoming a district claims manager for the 5 county region around Fresno.

1972 Jack Manuel Howell (1928 - 2008) 158142574 Brother Howell petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry on January 22, 1966.  He was installed as its Master six years later.  In 1977 he became a plural member of Center Lodge No. 465 in Fresno.

Brother Howell worked as an electrician.

1973 Gordon D. Speiser (1928 - 2016) 157562536  Brother Speiser was born in Mosca, Colorado.  At the time he petitioned Clovis Lodge for the degrees of Masonry, he listed his occupation as an auto parts salesman.

Brother Speiser was a U.S. Army veteran.

1974 Richard L. Payne

1975 Carl Donald Smith (1919 - 2000) 79356715 Brother Smith received the Degrees of Masonry in Clovis Lodge in 1969.  In his application he indicated that his occupation was that of an upholsterer.

1976 Neil W. Whitman (1929 - 2015)

1977 Thomas C. Young

1978 Jeffery D. Whitener 

1979 Lyle Hauert Smith (1933 - 1986) 158144373 Brother Smith petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry on June 29, 1968.  He indicated that for the winter of 1957-1958 he was a concrete inspector for PG&E on the Kings River Project.  He then took peace officer training and was a police officer for the City of Clovis until he became a traffic officer for the California Highway Patrol.

1980 Floyd Edward Gross (1924 - 2007) Brother Gross petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry on November 20. 1974.  He received all three degrees in early 1975.

In his application he lists his occupation as:  "Truck & Heavy Equipment & Electrical Repair & Parts."

1981 & 1984 Richard Corwin Matthews (1920 - 2004) 102009866 Brother Matthews petitioned Clovis Lodge on September 9, 1053.  He was initiated on November 19, 1953, passed on February 15, 1954 and raised on June 3, 1954.

Brother Matthews was a U.S. Marine during WW II and a California Highway Patrolman for 27 years.

1982 Richard Bruce Guttridge (1925 - 1990)  27243212 Brother Guttridge applied for dual membership in Clovis Lodge in 1972.  His other Lodge was Estacada Lodge No. 146 in Oregon.  At the time he was a Past Master of Estacada Lodge.  He received the Degrees of Masonry in Gateway Lodge No. 175 in Oregon having been raised on December 17, 1953.

During WW II he was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

Brother Guttridge listed his occupation as "Teacher".

1983 Duane Donald Young Brother Young petitioned Clovis Lodge for the Degrees of Masonry on November 16, 1976.  He was elected to membership on January 12, 1997, initiated on February 3, 1977, passed on March 31 and raised as Master Mason on May 9, 1977.

In his application Brother Young indicated that he was a route driver for Rainbow Bakeries.

Brother young took a Demit from Clovis Lodge in November of 2008.

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Last updated October 20, 2019