Oklahoma Templary's Past Grand Officers

By T.S. Akers

 Grand Commandery Officers, 1968

In Templary, it is typically the Grand Commander who receives all the glory. However, there have historically been a number of men in Oklahoma who have progressed through the various stations of the Grand Commandery and ultimately not arrived at the pinnacle of the grand officer line owing to death or other reasons. Those who reach the grand dais are worthy of recognition owing to the years of service they provided to arrive there. Unfortunately, as the years have gone by, these men no longer even garner a footnote in Oklahoma’s Templar history, though the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States even outlines their honorary rank.

On this subject, the Constitution of the Grand Encampment states the following (the relevant section has been underlined):

RETENTION OF RANK

Section 235. One who has filled by installation and term of service, the office of Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Generalissimo, Grand Captain General, Grand Prelate or Department Commander in the Grand Encampment; Grand Commander, Deputy Grand Commander, Grand Generalissimo or Grand Captain General in a Grand Commandery; or Commander in a Commandery; shall retain the title of the highest office attained by him in the Grand Encampment, Grand Commandery and Commandery, with the word, "Past" immediately preceding and qualifying the official title. Past rank is limited to the offices named in this section, and may include the Administrative Offices as authorized in Section 43 and 55 of the Constitution provided that the provisions of this section shall apply to all Department Commanders who have served their terms of office" prior to the 49th Triennial Conclave. Provided that an officer who is installed and thereafter dies during his term of office shall be entitled to be considered as having filled his term of office.

Two Grand Masters of the Grand Encampment have further expounded on this with Decisions, one of note being:

A Grand Generalissimo of a Grand Commandery, having declined advancement and not having been re-elected as Grand Generalissimo, becomes a Past Grand Generalissimo and retains that rank. His shoulder straps are prescribed in section 243(c) of the Grand Encampment Statutes. (1940,p 70 & 291, No. 37, Norris)

With the necessary code and decisions outlined, here are the Past Grand Officers of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Oklahoma. 

Past Deputy Grand Commander

1902-1903, Daniel M. Williams, McAlester Commandery No. 6 (I.T.)

1905-1906, John C. Hughes, Oklahoma Commandery No. 3

1959-1960, Dan G. Emrick, Trinity Commandery No. 20

1965-1966, Robert H. Jelley, Lawton Commandery No. 18

1969-1971, Lawrence E. Tryon, Guymon Commandery No. 51

2015-2016, James E. Smyrl, Trinity Commandery No. 20

Past Grand Generalissimo

1898-1899, Benjamin E. Binns, Oklahoma Commandery No. 3

1904-1905, Eugene Hamilton, DeMolay Commandery No. 7 (I.T.)

1907-1908, Ransom Stephens, DeMolay Commandery No. 7 (I.T.)

1915-1916, Frederic H. Smith, Gethsemane Commandery No. 25

1947-1948, James A. Sinex, Bethlehem Commandery No. 45

2023-2024, John T. Turner, St. Johns Commandery No. 8

Past Grand Captain General

1902-1903, Rev. A. V. Francis, Muskogee Commandery No. 2 (I.T.)

1949-1950, Joseph R. Holmes, Muskogee Commandery No. 2

1981-1983, Cecil E. Johnston, Shawnee Commandery No. 36

1985-1986, Charles H. Warner, Norman Commandery No. 38

1998-1999, Paul A. Fitch, Ardmore Commandery No. 9

2015-2016, T.S. Akers, Oklahoma Commandery No. 3