SDGMRichardsF
FLOYD D. RICHARDS 1900-1971
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1957-1958
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 186:
Floyd D. Richards, the eighty-fourth Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota, was born at Britton, Marshall County, South Dakota, on January 9, 1900. He received his education through high school in Britton. He was a lawyer and was a graduate of the Law School at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. He had a law practice in Woonsocket, South Dakota.
On June 14, 1923, he married Miss Bertha Louise Grupe at Britton. They had two children, a son Charles and a daughter Dorothy, and four grandsons. He was an active member of the Methodist Church.
He was made a Mason on March 29, 1928, in Woonsocket Lodge No. 79. He was a member of Woonsocket Chapter No. 27, serving as Grand High Priest in 1942-43. He became a Knight Templar in La-Co-Tah Commandery No. 6 of Huron on March 1, 1951, and was a member of Temple Council No, 7 of Pierre. He belonged to El Riad Shrine in Sioux Falls.
1958
The Annual Communication was held at Aberdeen in 1958 with Grand Master Richards presiding.
An important part of any Grand Lodge Communication is the attendance. At this Annual Meeting 116 of the 168 constituent lodges were represented. Fifteen Past Grand Masters and fifteen distinguished guests were present.
The first membership loss in many years showed up with 100 on the minus side, bringing the total membership to 20,433.
The question of smoking in lodge rooms occupied a portion of the time of the District Masters. A survey had been conducted among the lodges and the consensus of opinion showed "there is no well developed sentiment in favor of a change in the by-laws."
White Rock Lodge No. 138 of White Rock asked for authority to move its lodge to Rosholt. The petition being in order, the Grand Lodge voted in favor of the transfer.
The Trustees disbursed $27,011.94 during the year for charity cases, $500.00 as a gift to the Eastern Star Home, and $500.00 as a gift to the South Dakota Children's Home. It had become a practice for several years to allow the two $500.00 gifts.
The Finance Committee reported a need for additional funds to operate the Grand Lodge programs. A proposed amendment to the by-laws to raise per capita dues to $2.00 was by vote postponed for one year. A budget of $30,969.39 was adopted for the coming year.
The Board of General Activities had recommended and Grand Master Richards and approved the issuance and presentation of seventy-three 50-year medals, six 70-year palms, and seven Distinguished Service Awards.
A cornerstone had been laid for a Masonic Temple at Edgemont and Masonic Temples had been dedicated at Hudson and Edgemont.
