As I write this last message to you as Grand Master, the thought occurs that I am reaching the end of one of life's adventures. For me it began in 1963 with my initiation into Fidelity Chapter, Order of DeMolay. The story of Jacques DeMolay intrigued me as a fourteen year old, and it still does today. The lesson of DeMolay's self sacrifice for his fellow Templars is with me as much today as it was then. The adventure continued as my family and I lived through the Palm Sunday tornado of April 11, 1965. The grateful feelings I felt toward the good men of Shawnee Commandery No. 14 of Lima, Ohio, who gave of themselves to help a fellow Sir Knight, my Dad, and his family through a difficult time of their life defines "Chivalry, Christianity, Templary - A Way of Life." Though they never heard the phrase, they lived it every day.
My initiation into the Lodge and York Rite was never a question of whether I would become a member or not but how soon the Lodge met after my 21st birthday. It was a given that I would be knighted by my Dad, Shawnee's Eminent Commander, as his Inspection candidate on March 13, 1971. You see, I wanted to join those good men. I wanted to be just like them. They exemplified what it meant to be a "good man and true," and I darn sure wanted to join with them in their works. The Knights Templar Eye Foundation was the work of Shawnee Commandery, and it would become my work. When Sir Knight Arthur Long asked me to be his appointment as an officer in the line of Shawnee Commandery when he was elected Commander, it was the realization of a dream. I was young, I was exuberant at the opportunity to serve, and life was good. That portion of the adventure came to a close in 1981 with the largest number of knightings in Shawnee Commandery in the past twenty-five years, and though I was sorry my term was coming to an end, my strong right arm, my good friend and Generalissimo, Sir Knight Kenny Ayers, would replace me as Commander.
Another phase of the adventure came when in 1987 Sir Knight Frank Crane told me that he intended to propose me as his appointment into the Grand Commandery of Ohio line as his Grand Sentinel. Again, I was excited and wanted to make a difference. A year later, following the 1988 Triennial in Lexington, Kentucky, I was appointed by Grand Master Marvin E. Fowler, as aide-de-camp to Sir Knight Ned E. Dull, Past Grand Master of the Grand Encampment. During the eight years of service in that capacity, I learned the inner workings of the Grand Encampment by watching and listening. Early in that Triennium, as I excused myself from a meeting of his officers, Sir Knight Fowler called me back saying, "Where I am, you are always welcome." I have never forgotten his kindness.
The ten year line of the Grand Commandery of Ohio was marked by teamwork and professionalism among those with whom I served. We accomplished much, and when that segment of this adventure came to conclusion in 1997, though I was a bit sad to come to the end, I again had a dear friend and strong supporter who would follow. Sir Knight Sylvester Maust had been by my side as my Deputy and became a great Grand Commander. It was Sylvester who proposed a resolution encouraging me to run for the office of Grand Captain General in the Grand Encampment.
As I completed my year as Grand Commander, another part of this adventure had already begun when Grand Master James Morris Ward appointed me as his Department Commander for the East Central Department and continued in 2000 upon my election as Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment. I saw much to do and was again filled with exuberance and thrilled with the opportunity to help improve the Templary I love so much. Not only had I been elected, I would be able to follow my good friend Sir Knight Richard B. Baldwin whom I had come to admire and respect.
However this next chapter in the adventure would be filled with both joy and sorrow. Joy in seeing Sir Knight David Dixon Goodwin elected Grand Captain General in 2003 but sorrow in losing my dear friend Sir Knight Doug Johnson who had been as close to me as a brother when we served as Department Commanders together. Joy to witness the election of Sir Knight Sid C. Dorris, III as Grand Captain General in 2006 after death interrupted Doug's campaign for that office, and then sorrow again, when my friend Sir Knight Richard B. Baldwin could not complete his own adventure in 2007 and resigned as Grand Master only to die eighteen months later. Joy came again when my appointment of Sir Knight Duane Vaught was confirmed by the voting delegates in Roanoke in 2009, but sorrow came again when Sir Knight Sid Dorris died in late 2010.
In many ways, this adventure combined the bitter with the sweet, but such are the lives we all live. As I look back over the years since this adventure began, I am so grateful to have been surrounded by good men who wanted to make a difference and leave Templary better than they found it. All they ever wanted was an opportunity to do good things and to do what was right. I have seen it at all levels, and through this entire adventure, I have been blessed to have a good team to work with in whatever office I held along the way. I have said many times in this space how lucky I have been to have such fine officers, department commanders, committee people, and Grand Commanders. I thank God that he sent them my way, and I am very grateful. Throughout this adventure, the "sweet" has been abundant.
As I come to the end of my adventure, I have been blessed once more to have had another good man to follow me and help me every step of the last part of this adventure. I thank God for Sir Knight David Dixon Goodwin who will soon become your Grand Master. I look forward and pray that he is as fortunate to be surrounded by good men as I have been. I am sure he will be.
I believe we have made a difference and left Templary better for our passing its way. I shall not list what I feel are the achievements but will leave that to others. If it was valuable and worthwhile, others will praise it. I am just grateful to have been able to have been a part of such an adventure and will pray for those who follow that their adventure will be as worthwhile and rewarding for them as my adventure has been for me.
Bob Hope used to close by singing "Thanks for the Memories." Jimmy Durante, "And good night Mrs. Calabash wherever you are." Red Skelton, "Good Night and God Bless." I will merely close by saying, "It has been a privilege! - I love you all."
William H. Koon, II, GCT
Grand Master