effective and you always walked away with a nugget. He ’ d act rough, but it was just to test you. Once he knew you were sincere, he was all heart. GIG Shackelford: How did he view the process of onboarding new Grand Inspectors General, especially a class bearing his name? SGIG Smith : He believed in mentorship and training for Scottish Rite passage. When we moved from Tennessee to the USC-DC, he became Deputy of the Orient. His philosophy was, “ I ’ ll give you all the tools for your toolbox so you understand. ” It was about bringing the right people together and serving the community. He was big on giving back and caring for others. He served as Secretary for James A. Mingo Consistory for more than 20 years and as Deputy of the Oasis for 14-a life of serious dedication. SGIG Smith: He was meticulous with the books. Before he was District Deputy, he served as Grand Inspector (Auditor) for our jurisdiction, a high honor responsible for ensuring each Lodge ’ s records were maintained properly. He even created an auditing program. Because of him, every Commander - in - Chief in our Consistory never had to worry about the books, they could focus on working the room. He also led our Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways and made sure we took care of our widows, staying in touch with some dating back to the 1970s. It ’ s a shame that after he stepped down as Secretary, those connections faded. He pushed our Lodge and Temple to care for widows and serve the community. As Grand Master, he and PGM Mel Thorpe began an annual widows ’ luncheon and ensured they received free tickets and gifts at our annual Grand Feast.
GIG Shackelford: That confirms for me, he was a Mason ’ s Mason, indeed.
SGIG Smith : Exactly. There are lots of Masons, but a Mason ’ s Mason is different, someone universally respected. Wherever he went, as Grand Patron or Grand Master, people recognized him. They ’ d say, “ Here comes Shorty, ” and brace for his energy and wit. He was quick-minded, sharp, and full of heart. GIG Shackelford: Thank you for walking us down memory lane. I know it ’ s not easy. SGIG Smith : It was hard at first, but now it ’ s cathartic. I ’ m in a stage of understanding that this man blessed me in so many ways that all I can do is celebrate him. When I found out the class was named after him, I took a picture of his shirt and sent it to his kids so they ’ d know his name and legacy live on.
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