joined a Maryland Lodge there even though I was under Tennessee jurisdiction. He became a father figure away from home— told everyone, “ That ’ s my son. ” When I returned to Maryland in 2005, he made sure I transferred to his Lodge and Consistory. He said, “ Everything I get, I want you to get too. ” I never asked for anything, just wanted to be in his presence. For a small man, he was a giant of a person, with a big heart. He served as Deputy of the Oasis for about 14 years, then pushed me to work in the Refection Department of the United Supreme Council (then Tennessee jurisdiction). He made me Director of Refection for our Desert. He kept plugging me in because he wanted me to train and be observed learning. SGIG Smith : He always said, “ I need you to be visible. Where I go, you need to be. ” At first I didn ’ t understand, but soon I was his bodyguard. I ’ m a big guy and he was a little fella, so I was always hovering around him. When SGIG Mel Thorpe became Grand Master, Lee was Senior Grand Warden and then Deputy Grand Master. Mel made me District Deputy, so I was driving an hour and a half to Baltimore for meetings, but I enjoyed it. He taught me protocol (how people should sit in a room). And I carried that into the Refection Department. He was like a second father. When he was ill even in his final days, I helped care for him and his kids saw me as a brother. He was a great man.
GIG Shackelford: You spoke of him as a giant. If he were here now looking at you, how would he see you? SGIG Smith: He ’ d see a determined individual, always open to learn and a good listener. He recognized me as someone you can pour into and know it ’ ll bear fruit. GIG Shackelford: How many people would say the same about you? SGIG Smith : Every last one. About 70 percent of that comes from him. My grandmother and father also poured into me, but when I left home, I was running away from the streets, to the military. Lee became my biggest influence. GIG Shackelford : That ’ s beautiful. And that personal relationship didn ’ t make it into the book version of his bio. That ’ s why we ’ re doing this, because what you write and what you say don ’ t come out the same. SGIG Smith: Exactly. There ’ s not a person in Maryland who can say anything negative about Lee Taylor. Even if he was a grumpy old man, he was
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