Knights Templar of Tennessee

2015

Born on January 1^st, 1951 at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was the first born child of Marjorie Ann (Pitts) Pugh and John Douglas Pugh Sr.  He has two brothers and two sisters and graduated from Antioch High School in 1969, and immediately left for boot camp in the US Navy.

John served on the USS Independence, and in 1970, and 1971 in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam.  In 1973, he joined the Teamsters Union, and was hired by Yellow Freight System as a Diesel mechanic, and retired after 31 years of service.

In 1988 he met the Love of his Life, Patti Ann Flores, and on December 23^rd 1989 they were married in West Palm Beach Florida. After returning to Tennessee, they moved from Mt. Juliet to Charlotte, where they have resided for the last 25 years.  Over this period of time, they served as foster parents for over 36 children, and adopted two children, Isaiah Douglas Pugh, and Angel Ann Pugh.

In 2001, Patti founded Mainstreet Interventions Inc. located in Dickson, Tennessee, which specializes in Domestic Violence classes, drug and Alcohol classes, Parenting classes, and suicide prevention.

John was raised as a Master Mason in Iron Lodge #503, in Cumberland Furnace Tennessee on January 21st, 1998, and served as Master in 2001.  He has also been a plural member of Cotton Valley #345 in Waverly, Tennessee since August 12^th, 2003. He served as Dickson County Chairman from 1998-2000.  And District #9 Chairman from 2010-2012.  He also received Grand Lecturer’s Award for Masonic Ritualism in 2002

John received the Scottish Rite degrees in the Valley of Nashville on November 21^st 1998 and transferred his membership to the Valley of Knoxville in 2004, where he received the Knight Commander Court of Honor degree in 2011.

John was Exalted, Greeted, and Knighted to Dickson Chapter #123, Dickson Council #107, and Dickson Commandery #41 on March 27^th 1999 at a York Rite Festival at Hiram Lodge, in Franklin Tennessee, and served as Excellent High Priest in 2001 and 2010, Illustrious Master in 2001, and Eminent Commander in 2001, 2009, and 2012. He is also a plural member of Clarksville Commandery #8 in Clarksville TN.

John received the Order of the High Priesthood and The Order of the Silver Trowel on March 26^th, 2001. He was knighted as a Knight Crusader of the Cross on April 27^th 2001. He was knighted in the Middle Tennessee York Rite College January 26^th 2002 and the Knight’s York Cross of Honor in Tennessee Priory #15 on June 20^th 2002.

John was appointed to Grand Sword bearer in the Grand Commandery by REPGC James A. Hafner in 2006.  He also was a received The Order of The Purple Cross in Little Rock Arkansas in 2006.

John has served as presiding officer for the following Masonic Bodies:  Worthy Patron, Iron –Vanleer Order of the Eastern Star 2004;   President Middle Tennessee York Rite Association 2009; Excellent Chief  Ezra Council No. 89 Knight Masons 2010:  Governor Middle Tennessee York Rite College 2012; Sovereign Master Ray S. Garton No. 403 Allied Masonic Degrees 2013.

John is a member of the following Masonic Bodies; Al Menah Shrine and the  in Nashville, Tennessee since 1999; He has also had the Yellow Dog degree:  Order of the Knight Commanders Chattanooga Asylum #2:  Tennessee College Masonic Rosicruciana in Civitiatibus Foederatis 2009; Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon Cornelius Chapel # 104 2012; Honorary Past Commander of Indiana Past Commanders Association Grand Commandery of Indiana 2014:  Masonic Order of the Four Black Lamas 2014; Holy Manger XLV111 Holy Knights Templar Priest 2014.

In March 2012, Sir Knight John Douglas Pugh Jr. was elected Eminent Captain General, advanced each year, and was elected as the Right Eminent Grand Commander March 24^th, 2015.