Bro.BruceBenjamin
Premium Member
The Beginning:
In 1999 the late Most Worshipful Grand Master, The Honorable Robert E. Connor, Jr. felt it necessary to began a KOP Youth Program in his jurisdiction. He named the Grand Council after the late Most Worshipful Grand Master, The Honorable Thomas H. Routt. PGM Connors appointed Bro. Jamal Rasheed as the State Director. It was S.D. Rasheed responsibility to get the program up and running for the jurisdiction of Texas. Bro. Rasheed contacted the Supreme Master Knight, Gilbert “Gil†Tyler and he sent the Supreme Knight Treasurer, Richard Sutton of Arkansas to perform the ceremonies. Shortly their after about 5 councils were started in the state:
Name Location District
Grayson, Council No. 1 Sherman
Arthur L. Banks Council No. 2 Houston
S.J. Sutton, Council No. 3 San Antonio
Marching to Manhood, Council No. 4 Riesel
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Council No. 5 Austin
In 2001 State Director Jamal Rasheed was elected as the Deputy Supreme Master Knight of the KOP program (National Level). In November 2001 PGM Connor appointed Michael Simms as the new State Director for Texas KOP. State Director Simms after seeing that only two councils remain active in the state took the program in a new direction. SD Simms began by reorganizing the leadership structure of the program. He then developed a theme that will give youth, parents, and master masons a better understanding of what the KOP program is about: Teaching our Youth, Leadership, Responsibility, and Brotherhood. SD Simms then began educating the Master Masons about the importance of this program at Mid Winter Sessions, Annual Grand Lodge conferences, and district meetings.
As of January 1, 2004 we have 12 councils in the state with other Masonic districts/lodges requesting KOP councils. The KOP program in Texas now has its own website, logo, bylaws, mission statement, and statewide training program for youth across the state.
Source: State KOP
In 1999 the late Most Worshipful Grand Master, The Honorable Robert E. Connor, Jr. felt it necessary to began a KOP Youth Program in his jurisdiction. He named the Grand Council after the late Most Worshipful Grand Master, The Honorable Thomas H. Routt. PGM Connors appointed Bro. Jamal Rasheed as the State Director. It was S.D. Rasheed responsibility to get the program up and running for the jurisdiction of Texas. Bro. Rasheed contacted the Supreme Master Knight, Gilbert “Gil†Tyler and he sent the Supreme Knight Treasurer, Richard Sutton of Arkansas to perform the ceremonies. Shortly their after about 5 councils were started in the state:
Name Location District
Grayson, Council No. 1 Sherman
Arthur L. Banks Council No. 2 Houston
S.J. Sutton, Council No. 3 San Antonio
Marching to Manhood, Council No. 4 Riesel
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Council No. 5 Austin
In 2001 State Director Jamal Rasheed was elected as the Deputy Supreme Master Knight of the KOP program (National Level). In November 2001 PGM Connor appointed Michael Simms as the new State Director for Texas KOP. State Director Simms after seeing that only two councils remain active in the state took the program in a new direction. SD Simms began by reorganizing the leadership structure of the program. He then developed a theme that will give youth, parents, and master masons a better understanding of what the KOP program is about: Teaching our Youth, Leadership, Responsibility, and Brotherhood. SD Simms then began educating the Master Masons about the importance of this program at Mid Winter Sessions, Annual Grand Lodge conferences, and district meetings.
As of January 1, 2004 we have 12 councils in the state with other Masonic districts/lodges requesting KOP councils. The KOP program in Texas now has its own website, logo, bylaws, mission statement, and statewide training program for youth across the state.
Source: State KOP
