MOGMBAustin
BRUCE R. AUSTIN 1935-
Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive
Grand Master, 2007-2008
BIOGRAPHY
Bruce Austin was born December 14m 1935 in East Prairie, Missouri and graduated from the East Prairie Schools in 1953. He attended Southeast Missouri State University for two years. Joining the Navy, where he became a Hospital Corpsman, trained in the use of I-131 radioactive Iodine. He was stationed at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland for 3 1/2 years He enrolled in the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science whee he obtained a degree in Mortuary Science graduating Magna Cum Laude.
He returned to East Prairie and associated with the McMikle Funeral Home, both in East Prairie and Charleston. He married Myrtle (Sisser) Goodin and they had three sons, Stephen, Sam and David.
Bruce started farming with his father in law in 1965 and took over the farm in 1974, farming over 1700 acres growing soybeans, corn and winter wheat.
Brother Austin's Masonic affiliation began in 1961 when he was initiated into East Prairie Lodge No 384, In 1964 he transferred his membership to Charleston Lodge No 407 where he served as Master in 1971 and 1980. He is a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of St Louis being honored with the 33rd degree in 1995. He belongs to Charleston Chapter No 19 RAM, Cape Council No 20, and Cape Girardeau Commandery KT. He was a member of the Allied Masonic Degrees, Missouri Lodge of Research and Moolah Shrine, Memberships also include the Red Cross of Constantine and Moolah Shrine.
He was appointed Senior Grand Marshal by Grand Master Soutiea and elected and installed Grand Master in 2008
