MAGLREJohnson
RICHARD E. JOHNSON
Deputy Grand Master, 1990
BIOGRAPHY
From TROWEL, Spring 1990, Page 16:
Richard Earl Johnson of Northboro was installed Deputy Grand Master and in his talk he emphasized ". . . the need for genuine sense of purpose, and for the Craft to be more pare of our community needs among the aged and misguided youth. It is our duty as Masons to provide the moral fiber of life to others and to understand that our personal efforts are as important to society as giving money. The need to stretch forth our hands to save others, not just our fallen Brothers. Let us unite to expose to society the lodges we take inside our temples."
From TROWEL, Summer 1990, Page 11:
Deputy Grand Master Credits the Army for His Present Posture
For many years prior to the outbreak of World War II, the U.S. Navy had a billboard slogan, "Join the Navy and See the World." Uncle Sam, attired in his proper red, white and blue uniform and top hat was pointing to every young man to the effect that, "I need you!" Our new Deputy Grand Master is a well travelled man; has been to most of the 50 states of the union and ten foreign nations. But his forte was the Navy's counterpart of service, the Army, where he found a 13-year haven only three days after his high school graduation. "I was a rebel and the Army straightened me out. I was reading through an Army school catalog and spotted a course on Signal Analyst. When I asked the recruiter what it meant he said was classified. So, that was for me and the Army lity Agency educated me." His travels took him as as Taiwan, The Philippines, Japan, Midway Island, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Europe, Canada and into many of the military forts in the United States.
Richard Earl Johnson is a native of Omaha where he graduated in 1961 from South High School. In one of his three tours of duty that brought him to Ft. Devens he met his wife, Joan C. Ellison of Belmont. "I had dated her lest friend and my Army pal was dating Joan. Fortunately for me. we later exchanged dates. We were married in 1969 and we are the parents of Richard A., 17, and Cheryl A., 15." Their son is a member of Marlboro Chapter. Order of DeMolay, and Cheryl is a member of Marlboro Assembly No. 35, International Order of Rainbow for Girls. Joan is a Past Worthy Advisor of Belmont Assembly No. 31 and a member of Belmont Chapter No. 108. Order of the Eastern Star.
Raised in United Brethren Lodge of Marlboro in 1975, he was Master 1983-84 and District Deputy Grand Master of the Marlboro 24th in 1986 and 1987. He was the Grand Pursuivant to R. W. Al Rose, who was Junior Grand Warden in 1988. Bro. Johnson's Pursuivant this year is Wor. Walter A. Vickers, Past Master of United Brethren Lodge. Both are residents of Northboro. Dick is affiliated with Columbian Lodge of Boston, member of the Valley of Boston, Scottish Rite, and has been active with the Education Dept. of Grand Lodge as a Presenter and Forum Leader. He serves on the Advisory Boards of DeMolay and Rainbow in Marlboro. His hobby is collecting antique pocket watches and motor home touring. The least of his worries are tires for the motor home. He is president of four tire agencies.
Dick Johnson is a prime example of what M. W. Edgar W. Darling means when he says, "They're out there, Brethren!" He has no family ties to the Craft, but his wife Joan's grandfather and two uncles are Past Masters of Pequossette Lodge of Watertown. Her father is a member of Belmont-Beaver Lodge and Mrs. Ellison is a Past Grand Conductress of the Eastern Star.
"My primary interest in Masonry is strengthening our Blue Lodges. That's where it's at and that's where we are weakening in the Fraternity. Strong Blue Lodges mean a strong Craft and the Collateral bodies will then prosper and proliferate. It's time to go back to the basics." His task is to prepare a curriculum for next fall when the Grand Master will conduct educational meetings for the present and future District Deputy Grand Masters. Credit the U.S. Army for taking a young man who considered high school as boring and developing him into an educator. But also credit Freemasonry for giving our Deputy Grand Master a new opportunity to serve.
