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Valley Fall 2003 Reunion honors
Most Worshipful Steven J. Krekus,
Grand Master of Masons in Ohio
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Illustrious and
Most Worshipful
Steven J. Krekus, 33°,
Grand Master of Masons
in Ohio |
Steven J. Krekus, a member of the Valley of Cleveland, Past Most Wise Master of Ariel Chapter, Rose Croix, and Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees was installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, on Saturday, October 18 in Dayton, Ohio.
Most Worshipful Brother Krekus is an architect with national credentials, a community leader and prominent Freemason. The Cleveland native has worked on the design of an electron beam accelerator building, rocket engine and nuclear testing facilities, rubber compounding facilities, football stadiums, shopping malls, restaurants and Masonic facilities.
The son of the late Steve and Ella Krekus, themselves active members of the Masonic family, Steven graduated from Charles F. Brush High School and Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Architecture.
Our Most Worshipful Grand Master is married to the former Carol Ann Osborn, herself an active member of several Masonic organizations. They are residents of Aurora, Ohio, and are members of a United Church of Christ. The couple has two children, Steven Paul of Twinsburg, a graduate of Akron University and Cathy Ann Kern of Columbus, a graduate of Capital University.
Steven Paul is a Past State Scribe of the Order of DeMolay for Boys and a member of George A. Holly Lodge and the Valley of Cleveland. He is the father of two children, Stacy, a senior at Twinsburg High School and a member of the show choir and chorus. She is Past Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters
Bethel no. 76 in Cuyahoga Falls, and Steven B., a sophomore at Twinsburg High School who plays on the school soccer team. He is a member of Selynma Chapter, Order of
DeMolay.
Cathy is a Past Grand Soloist of the Order of Rainbow for Girls. She is the mother of Kimberly, a sophomore at Columbus State and a member of Columbus Rainbow Assembly. Cathy’s son Matthew is a senior at Westerville South High School and a member of the Linden Chapter, Order of
DeMolay.
Diners across the nation eat at restaurants designed by Steve, including TGI Friday’s, Dalts, Uno’s, Boston Market, Max and Erma’s and Italianni’s. He has worked on enclosed shopping malls from Bloomington, Indiana to Fort Collins, Colorado.
CIVIL RECORD
In the community, Steve recently served as Chairman of the City of Aurora Planning Commission. While living in Richmond Hts., Ohio, he served as a member of the Recreation Board, was the first Chairman of the Architectural Review Board, and following election to the Board of Education, served as its president. He is a former member of the Cuyahoga County Airport Architectural Review Board. In 1976, he was a nominee for the Applause Award program as one of the outstanding people of Greater Cleveland. Steve is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Kentucky Colonel and a Territorial Marshal of the Territory of Oklahoma.
BUSINESS RECORD
In business, Steve has been in building design and construction since 1956. He is president of Krekus Architect, Inc. an architectural firm and president of Kai Corporation, a construction management and development company. He previously was with TGI Friday’s. Inc. in Dallas, Texas, a world-wide casual dining company where he was Vice President of Architecture and Construction and was responsible for the design and construction of over 40 new restaurants. He presently is still designing TGI Friday’s, as well as other restaurants, commercial and manufacturing facilities.
Steve is the holder of the National Council of Architectural Review Board Certificate and is a registered architect in several states throughout the country. He is a member of the International Code Council, and a former instructor of architectural design and graphics at Lakeland Community College in Mentor, Ohio.
DeMOLAY RECORD
Steve was initiated into Selymna Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Lyndhurst, Ohio in 1951. He served as Master Councilor in 1953 and was granted the Representative DeMolay Award (the Chapter’s first), the Chevalier Degree and the Blue Honor Key. He was a Second District Officer and a State Representative.
After College, he returned to be an advisor with Willoughby Chapter and then Chapter Advisor of Selymna Chapter, before being appointed a Second District Deputy in 1963. In 1971 he became Governor of the Second District and held that position until 1975. On the State level in Ohio, Steve served several years as State Membership Director and three years as State Advisory Council Chairman. He has participated on the staff of several International Supreme Council Leadership Conferences. He has been awarded the Active Legion of Honor, Medal of Appreciation, and Cross of Honor.
In the spring of 1983, he was elected an Active Member of the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay. He served as Director of Ohio State’s Officers for 20 years. From 1995-99 he served as Executive Officer of Ohio DeMolay and was elected to two terms as Region 4 Representative on DeMolay International’s Board of Directors.
While living in Texas he served as Membership Director and was on the Executive Officer’s Advisory staff.
In addition to DeMolay, Krekus has served as a Rainbow Advisor and has been awarded the Rainbow Grand Cross of Color. Carol is a Past Worthy Advisor of Heights Assembly and Past Mother Advisor of two other Assemblies and a Past Secretary of Willoughby Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. She is a Past President of the Richmond Heights Garden Club and Richmond Heights Parent Teachers Association.
MASONIC RECORD
The Most Worshipful Brother Krekus is a member of George A. Holly Lodge No. 745 in Painesville, Ohio, serving as Master in 1972. He is an Honorary Member of five Ohio Lodges and a member of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 in Texas. He is a member of Mount Olive Chapter No. 189, R.A.M.; Painesville Council No. 104, R. & S.M.; Eagle Commandery No. 29; the Royal Order of Scotland; Hi Point Council No. 120 of the Allied Masonic Degrees, where he served as Sovereign Master for 1992; the Philalethes Society; Senior DeMolay Mark Master Lodge No. 2; Al Koran Shrine and Willoughby Chapter, O. E. S.
He was appointed a District Deputy Grand Master of the 25th Masonic District in 1975 and served until October 1978.
In October of 1996, Grand Master Thomas H. Galyen appointed M.W.B. Krekus to serve the Grand Lodge of Ohio as Junior Grand Deacon where he progressed through the officer’s line to become Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Ohio.
Editor’s Note:
Ill.·.
and M.W.B. Steven J. Krekus, 33°, Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, Scottish Rite, Valley of Cleveland, biography is included in the
Fall 2003 Reunion Booklet in this
online issue of The Scottish Rite News.
ILLUSTRIOUS STEVEN J. KREKUS, 33° CLASS OF CANDIDATES
Fall 2003 Reunion to be held
November
21 and 22
The 32° Freemasons in the Valley of Cleveland will hold the Fall 2003 Reunion on Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22 in the Cleveland Masonic Center.
Illustrious Steven J. Krekus, 33°, Past Most Wise Master of Ariel Chapter, Rose Croix and Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, has been designated as the Fall 2003 Class Honoree.
The reunion begins at 6:00 p.m. on November 21st with the conferral of the Degrees of Eliadah Lodge of Perfection and continues through Saturday with the degrees of Bahurim Council, Princes of Jerusalem, Ariel Chapter Rose Croix, and Lake Erie Consistory,
Prior to Friday nights festivities, free hot dogs, chips, pickles, soft drinks, and coffee will be served to members of the Valley, candidates, and visiting
Scottish Rite brethren from other valleys.
The degrees of the Fall Reunion are the 5th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, and 32nd. If you have not observed these degrees as part of the Scottish Rite Passport Program which began at the Spring 2000 Millennium Class, here is a chance to put another “notch” on your passport in your quest to view all 29 Scottish Rite Degrees.
Most of Valley of Cleveland Degrees this year are the standard degrees always presented at our Scottish Rite Reunions. The two new degrees for 2003 are the 5th Degree (Perfect Master) to be presented on Friday, November 21st, and the
22nd Degree (Prince of Libanus) to be presented Saturday afternoon. If you have not seen either of these degrees, this is your chance.
The pageantry of the Scottish Degree presentations in the Valley of Cleveland is unsurpassed by any other valley. Support your elected and appointed officers who work hard as they continue to impress upon our candidates the valuable lessons taught in Scottish Rite Masonry.
We especially invite the members of our Spring Class 2003 to attend this reunion and receive additional light in Masonic education. The important lessons taught in the degrees to be presented will have a lasting memory you
will recall and add additional meaning every time you see a
degree.
The officers would like to see the auditorium filled. Call a friend and ask him to travel to 3615 Euclid Avenue and see the degrees presented and welcome the
Ill.·.
Steven J. Krekus, 33°, Grand Master of Masons in Ohio Class of candidates, into the Valley of Cleveland.
Coffee, donuts, tea, juice and sweet rolls will be served prior to the Saturday opening beginning at approximately 7:00 a.m.
Complete reunion schedule details are included in Reunion Booklet in this issue of the Scottish Rite News.
A luncheon will be held on
November 22. A reservation is a must and is available online for
you to print.
Valleys in Ohio Fall Reunion
degree dates
The following valleys in Ohio have scheduled degree exemplifications on the dates listed. Members of the Rite who are traveling in the course of business are encouraged to witness the work. Examinations to enter the lodge room are not required. A visiting member gains entrance upon presenting his current dues card.
Akron-- No degrees scheduled.
Cambridge--Nov. 15...7°, 9°, 14°, 15°, 16°, 18°, 20°, 23°, 24°, 28°, 32°.
Canton: Oct. 23 (7°, 14°); Oct. 24 (15°, 18°); Oct. 25 ( 27°, 32°).
Cincinnati: Nov. 15.....14°, 15°, 18°, 32°.
Cleveland: Nov. 21 (5°, 14°); Nov. 22 (15°, 16°,17°,18° 22°, 32°).
Columbus: Oct. 11... 4°, 13°, 14°, 15°, 16°, 18°, 20°, 30°, 32°.
Dayton: Nov. 7 (7°, 12°, 14°, 15°, 16°); Nov, 8 (17°, 18°, 30°, 32°).
Steubenville: Nov, 2 ...8°, 17°).
Toledo: Sept. 2...20°; Nov. 17 ( 5°, 7°, 14°, 15°, 16°); Nov. 8 (17°, 18°, 32).
Youngstown: Jan. 10, 2004....17°
Here’s an excellent chance to complete your Millennium Passport by attending the reunions listed above. Special recognition will be given by Supreme Council to those witnessing the 29 degrees of
32° Freemasonry. Prospective visitors should verify dates with the Secretary of the valley to be visited before making definite plans. A current list of all reunions in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is posted in the Secretary’s office.
Fall Reunion Luncheon Reservation Policy
If you wish to make a luncheon reservation, you must use the form below. The cost for lunch is $5.00 per person. Tickets for lunch will not be sold the day of the reunion in order that the our Secretary can get an accurate count of how many lunches to order.
If you order luncheon tickets by mail, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the office can get tickets to you in a timely manner. You may also buy luncheon tickets from the Secretary’s office during regular business hours.
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