GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD

The Golden Trowel Award was created by the Grand Lodge of Texas to enable subordinate Masonic Lodges the opportunity to honor those brethren who have labored long and hard hours in the local quarries of the respective lodges. The brethren listed below have been voted by the members of Palestine Lodge for this - "The Highest Honor That a Lodge Can Bestow" in testimony as to their boundless love, dedication and sacrifice of their time and talents to the betterment of their fellow Masons and success of the Lodge.

The Golden Trowel Award

Revised January, 2001

From The Grand Lodge Of Texas Web Site

• · Since its inception the Golden Trowel Award continues to be an exciting means for Lodges to recognize and honor distinguished members with an official award from the Grand Lodge of Texas. It is for use by all Texas Lodges.

  • · The Golden Trowel is the Lodge's formal recognition of a Brother for his devoted service to Masonic principles in general or to his Lodge. It is intended for the Brother who, year after year, quietly, but actively demonstrates his devotion to the teachings of Masonry without thought of recognition or special honors.

  • · Every Lodge has such members. They spread the living cement that builds our Fraternity into a true Brotherhood.

  • You will find them at labor in the kitchens, on the work committees, in public office, on community projects, in service clubs, heavily involved in their church activities and in schools - anywhere that a

• • · This award is not intended to replace or supersede any individual recognition award already

  • established by a Lodge. It provides the advantages of a single, official award, which is recognized statewide.

  • The Texas Masonic Golden Trowel Award

  • How It All Began

  • From The Grand Lodge Of Texas Web Site

  • Our Golden Trowel Award originated at a place called “Armadillo Acres” - the get-away home, or country retreat of Past Grand Master Leonard P. Harvey. In the Fall of 1989 while at “Armadillo Acres” for a bit of a breather prior to the upcoming Grand Lodge session, Grand Master Harvey, Deputy Grand Master A.D. Hanna and Grand Senior Warden Fred E. Allen were discussing possible recipients of the prestigious Sam Houston Medal given annually to outstanding Masons. During those discussions, Deputy Grand Master Hanna opined:

  • “We are always giving special recognition to brethren on a Grand Lodge level, and I don't understand why

  • we can't recognize deserving guys at the lodge level.” He mentioned that in nearly every lodge there are

  • the rather obscure brothers who day in and day out do the “little things” for Masonry and for his lodge, and

  • he does those things without expectation of reward or recognition. He went on to say those are the

  • brethren who work in the kitchen, sweep the floors, do plumbing and carpentry work, mow the yard, plant

  • and maintain flowers --- and, yes - they are those who pick up the disabled and bring them to lodge

  • meetings, see to the transportation and other needs of the widows and others who are less fortunate for

  • one reason or another. While talking about his idea, Brother Hanna was sitting in “the red chair” twiddling

  • between his fingers a small golden trowel that was given to Brother Harvey's father-in-law several years

  • ago when he purchased lots at a Dallas cemetery. The proverbial “light came on” and Brother Hanna said:

  • “We can call it the “Golden Trowel Award.” That is the way it happened, and it has been carried forward ever

PALESTINE LODGE RECIPIENTS

1991

Elton E. "Bubba" Dean

Jiles "B" Upton

1992

J. Alvin Coleman

1993

H. G. "Dick" Broughton

1994

James Ray Currie

1995

Guy Eugene Kinder

1996

William W. "Bill" Rodgers

1997

Phillip Ray Fenton

1998

Richard Eugene Thornton Jr.

Georgia Ray Smith

1999

Lubie Harmon Hanson Jr.

Lorenzo Eldon "Cush" Reeves

2000

Jack Alvin Coleman Jr.

2004

Eads Blocker Blaser Jr.

2006

Larry Bruce Jung

2007

William Thomas Ashley

2008

David J. Dial

2009

Willis Calvin "Bo" Boedeker Jr.

2010

Ernest C. "Chip" Wolfe III

2011

Kenneth D. Talbot

2012

James Clyde Burgess

2013

James Kenneth Sansom

2014

Charles Lee Steen

2015

Roger Lee Baker

2016

M. David Brooks

2018

A. James Ashley

2019

William C. "Bill" Prell

AFFILIATED GOLDEN TROWEL RECIPIENTS FROM

MONTALBA LODGE NO. 1252

J. H. Haverkorn ........ 1992 - 1993

Donald R. Wolfe ....... 1993 - 1994

William W. Rodgers 1993 - 1994

Fred Rodgers ........... 1994 - 1995

Jesus Roel Ruiz ......... 1995 - 1996