It is with great sadness that we report that Most Puissant Maurice C. “Bud” Himes, Past General Grand Master of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International, laid down his working tools on Wednesday, February 7^th. He was 88 years old.

 

Most Puissant Companion Himes, known by the nickname ‘Bud’, was born the 30^th of December, 1935, in Portsmouth, Ohio. Educated in public schools there, he attended The Ohio State University for two years, pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. He joined the US Army in 1953 and completed his education at various colleges and universities over the next several years, as duties and assignments would permit, eventually receiving his Bachelor Degree in Political Science from Georgetown University. He married Glenda J. Cobb in 1978, and they had two sons, and four grandchildren. During his 28 year military career, he served in Special Forces, qualified as a Master Parachutist, Ranger, and Airborne Pathfinder. He retired from active duty in 1981 as a Chief Warrant Officer, while assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as a Soviet Weapons Systems Analyst.

 

Companion Himes was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Daleville Lodge No. 903 in March 1982. He was Past Master of Newton Lodge No. 224, Newton, Alabama, and served as Secretary of Metcalf Lodge No. 599, Slocomb, Alabama.

 

Bud was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree in Dothan Chapter No. 113, Dothan, Alabama, in 1983 and was a Past High Priest.

 

He was greeted as a Royal and Select Master in Dothan Council No. 68 and was a Past Illustrious Master.

 

Bud was knighted in Dothan Commandery No. 25 and was a past Commander. Companion Himes served on several Grand Lodge Committees, as Grand Sentinel of the Grand Chapter, and as the Chairman of the General Grand Chapter RARA Committee. He was Past President of the Alabama Council of Anointed High Priests and received the General Grand Chapter Distinguished Award in Bronze.

 

Companion Bud served the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Alabama as Most Illustrious Grand Master in 1993-1994 and was Past Thrice Illustrious Master of the Order of the Silver Trowel.

 

He was a Past Knight Crusader of the East of the Knights Crusader of the Cross. He was Past Prior of Alabama Priory, Knights of the York Cross of Honour, and held one Grand Quadrant of the Knights of the York Grand Cross of Honour. He was a Past Governor of Alabama College of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America and recipient of the Order of the Purple Cross.

 

He was appointed Regional Deputy General Grand Master for the Southeast Region from 1993-1996. He was elected General Grand Principal Conductor of the Work at the Triennial in Wichita Falls, KS, in 1999. He was elected Deputy General Grand Master in Atlantic City, NJ, in 2002, and elected and installed Most Puissant General Grand Master in Rapid City, SD, in 2005 for the 43^rd Triennium of 2005-2008.

 

Other Masonic Affiliations, in Alabama, include Charter Member of Old Cahaba Council, Allied Masonic Degrees; member of Alcazar Shrine, AANOMS; Past Worthy Patron, Kolb Chapter, OES; member of the Masonic Society; member of Saint Asaph Conclave, RCC; member of Jerusalem Tabernacle XXXII, HRAKTP; Past Great Chief of Vulcan Council No. 22, Knight Masons; member of Rosicrucians; member of Bandar Grotto, MOVPR; National Sojourners Chapter No. 365; the Past Officers Association of Maine; and the Order of The Sword of Bunker Hill. Brother Himes was a 32° Knight C Cross of Honor in the Valley of Dothan, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Masonic Jurisdiction, a member of the Valley of Moline, Illinois, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, and a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.

 

Companion Bud was a member of the Military Officers Association of America, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans Association, the Kentucky Colonels, and the Alabama Sheriffs Association.

 

Celebration of Life Service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024 in Sorrells Funeral Home chapel. Burial will be at Arlington Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family request that contributions be made to East Geneva County Senior Citizens Group in memory of Companion Himes.