JAMES E. “GENE” BELK (w∴m∴ 1966-1967) (deceased) James Eugene Belk, Jr. was born on September 30, 1924 in Houston, Texas. He attended the public school system of the city, graduating from Reagan High School in 1941. He attended the University of Houston until 1942, when he was drafted into the armed forces of the United…
CECIL C. SOUTHERLAND (w∴m∴ 1965-1966) (deceased) Cecil Curtis Southerland was born on November 21, 1918 in Morgan, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1935, he attended North Texas State University. As a member of the Naval Reserve, during World War II he served aboard the attack transport U.S.S. Fond du Lac, and was also…
T. BALDWIN DeYOUNG (w∴m∴ 1964-1965) (deceased) Thomas Baldwin DeYoung was born on August 25, 1914 in Houston, Texas. He attended the University of Houston, and was a graduate of Southwestern Business University. During World War II, he served as a Staff Sergeant of the 25th Air Wing, VMD, of the United States Marine Corps, and…
RALPH D. COPPOCK (w∴m∴ 1963-1964) (deceased) Ralph David Coppock was born on March 17, 1903 in Washington, Iowa, moving to Houston in 1920. He attended the University of Iowa, the University of Texas, and the Texas College of Law. During World War II, he served the United States as a District Enforcement Attorney of the…
M. WILBUR WRIGHT (W∴M∴ 1962-1963) (deceased) Milton Wilbur Wright was born on June 4, 1892 in Thomasville, Alabama. In 1916, he moved to Houston and joined the Southern Pacific Railroad as a yardman. After 43 years of continuous service, he retired in 1959 as the assistant yardmaster of the Englewood Terminal. He was married, and…
FRANK M. MARTIN (w∴m∴ 1961-1962) (deceased) Frank Milton Martin was born on October 3, 1921 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He later moved to Fort Worth, where he graduated from the Fort Worth Technical High School in 1940. In his early professional life, he worked as a machinist for the Humble Oil and Refining Company, and…
B. B. MOORE (w∴m∴ 1960-1961) (deceased) Beverly Bryan Moore was born on March 10, 1901 in Washington, North Carolina. He was a dental technician by trade, and was the owner of the Moore Dental Laboratory. He was married, and had one son. Brother Moore received the degrees in Freemasonry from Ideal Lodge No. 362, in…
ROBERT R. BYERS (w∴m∴ 1959-1960) (deceased) Robert Riley Byers was born on February 3, 1905 in Celeste, Texas. After graduating from high school, he attended the Rice Institute (now called Rice University). In his early career, he was employed as an Engine Foreman for the Southern Pacific Railroad, and later worked for Harris County as…