MOGMMDonelson
J. MORGAN DONELSON 1924-2016
Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive
Grand Master, 1969-1970
BIOGRAPHY
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
J.Morgan Donelson was born on July 26, 1924 at Princeton, Missouri, the son of Joseph Morgan and Hallie Donelson. He was educated in the public schools of Mercer County and graduated from Princeton High School. He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Missouri at Columbia, where he matriculated at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Law. He was awarded the Degree of Juris Doctor in 1950.
J. Morgan was admitted to practice law on December 9, 1950 as both a trial and appellate attorney with criminal, equity, domestic, juvenile and damage case until 1959. During a portion of that time, he served as Prosecuting Attorney of Mercer County.
He served as a Representative in the 69th General Assembly from 1957 to 1959. He then ran for Judge of the 3rd Judicial Circuit and was elected in 1958. Brother Donelson continued to be Presiding Judge of the Judicial Circuit until July 26, 1994 when he became Senior Circuit Judge.
Brother Donelson's military service was in the Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946.
In 1965, the Grand Chapter of Missouri, Order of the Eastern Star elected him as Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Missouri. He was a member of Moelia Chapter OES.
Judge Donelson was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Mercer of Lodge No 35 on September 16, 1953 and served as Master in 1956. He served as DDGM of the 4th Masonic District, a Director of the Masonic Home of Missouri, and was elected Grand Master in 1969.
In the Fall of 2003, Grand Master Stanley M. Thompson presented Grand Master Donelson with his fifty year jewel as a Master Mason.
He belonged to Trenton Chapter NO 66 RAM and served as High Priest in 1960, Trenton Council No 37 R&SM and Godfrey de Bouillon Commandery No 24 KT. He also belonged to Moila Shrine, St Joseph Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, DeMolay Legion of Honor and Order of High Priesthood.
Grand Master Donelson died in Florida on September 24, 2016. Masonic Services were held at the Princeton United Methodist Church on Saturday November 26, 2016 with Grand Master Richard Smith presiding. In attendance were three Past Grand Masters, Hess, Broyles and Haywood, the advancing line of the Grand Lodge of Missouri and members of the Masonic Lodges in the area.
