Peter Elisha Howell
Our First Master
Peter Howell was born in Oxford County, Canada on April 24, 1874. His family relocated to Alpena, Michigan when he was nine years of age. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on November 25, 1898 in Hopper Lodge No. 386 in Alpena, Michigan. He attended Business College at Ionia, Michigan and later worked as a barber. His family then moved to Tucson, Arizona in mid-summer of 1900 when he was 26. His first job upon arriving in Tucson was in a barber shop. He later established the Modern Barber Shop, which became a local landmark and gathering place for Tucson notables.
A one-time barber who rose to prominence in business, politics and Masonic activities, he was a Tucson pioneer, civic leader, business man, and a leading factor in civic development for many years. He organized the Tucson Community Chest (President), served twice as Exalted Ruler of the Tucson Elks Club (a fifty year member), President of the Tucson Tourist Hotel Company, Catalina Boy Scout Council, Salvation Army, Sunshine Climate club and the Tucson Chamber of Commerce (Director) and was for14 years a school board Trustee,serving as President in 1944.
Fifteen years after his arrival in Tucson he took over management of the New Method Laundry, of which Mose Drachman was President. The firm later became known as the Tucson Steam Laundry and subsequently changed its name to the Tucson Laundry and Dry Cleaning. He served as Secretary/Treasurer and as General Manager of this firm. At that time it was the largest business of that type between El Paso, Texas and the west coast.
In 1912 he was appointed as County Recorder due to the death of his predecessor. He was appointed under the territorial government and became the first person to fiil that office when Arizona was admitted to the Union in 1912. He was the last County Treasurer during the Territorial Days. He lost his re-election bid.
Peter Howell was married twice. His fist wife died shortly after their arrival in Tucson. His second wife, the former Lora C. Hunt of Washington D.C., bore him a son, Peter E. Howell, Jr. and a daughter, Martha "Betty" Howell Yaeger.
His Masonic activities were many and varied. He was initiated October 11, 1898, passed November 5, 1898 and raised November 25, 1898 in Hopper Lodge No. 386 in Alpena, Michigan. He had affiliated with Tucson Lodge No. 4 and then demitted on August 24, 1922 to become a member of Epes Randolph Lodge No. 32 which at that time was under dispensation, and served as its charter Master. (Note: The annual dues were $6.00).
He served as High Priest, Tucson Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons and as Commander of Arizona Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar. He served as Deputy Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Arizona. He was consecrated a 33rd degree Honorary Inspector General in the Tucson Scottish Rite and served on the stage crew for many years. The Elks Club established a scholarship in his name for youth. In 1952 an addition was added to the present Tucson Scottish Rite and the addition was dedicated in his name. The addition cost $325,000. He also served as Chief Rabban for El Zaribah Shrine Temple (Phoenix).
in April of 1951 he was honored by the Tucson School Board of Trustees with the dedication of its new school at East Fifth Street and Irvington Circle, the Peter Howell Elementary School. This honor was in recognition of his 14 years of service to the Board of Trustees from 1936 to 1949. The cost of the new school was $318,000. He was the only living person in whose name a school was dedicated.
He remained active to the end, but after a valiant 18-year struggle with a malignant disease he succumbed on January 17, 1952 after 77 years of faithful service to mankind. He gave Tucson 51 years of his time and service. His body was interred in the Evergreen Cemetery, not too far from the grave site of Epes Randolph. Seventeen Past Masters of Epes Randolph formed his Honor Guard. His Masonic service was conducted by Epes Randolph Lodge No. 32 and the graveside ceremony was conducted by Tucson Lodge No. 385, BPOE.
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The above was compiled and edited by Donald E. White, PM, and William E. Lofquist, PM, from the archives of the Arizona Historical Society on June 13, 2004.
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PAST MASTERS - EPES RANDOLPH LODGE NO. 32 & TEMPLE LODGE NO. 51
1. 1923 Peter E. Howell***
2. 1924 Sixten A. Bring ***
3. 1925 Eric Monthan ***
4. 1926 Gurdon M. Butler, PGM ***
5. 1927 Luis Caballero ***
6. 1928 Edward D. Rockwell ***
7. 1929 William A. Stone ***
8. 1930 Clarence E. Matteson ***
9. 1931 Paul K. Hill ***
10. 1932 Everett Reser ***
11. 1933 Victor B. Harrell ***
12. 1934 Lee Garret ***
13. 1935 William W. Saunders ***
14. 1936 Kenneth I. Bechtold ***
15. 1937 Fred Lewis Pusch ***
16. 1938 Rollin D. Burr ***
17. 1939 Winston Reynolds ***
18. 1940 Ronald c. Nicholson - PGM ***
19. 1941 Frank A. Garrigus ***
20. 1942 William H. Dobyns ***
21. 1943 David C. Perkins ***
22. 1944 Charles H. McCarty ***
23. 1945 Ross H. Lincoln ***
24. 1946 Edmund S. Tourigny ***
25. 1947 Ernest H. Hussman ***
26. 1948 Dennis B. Weaver ***
27. 1949 Robert W. Ruggles ***
28. 1950 Delbert L. Secrist ***
29. 1951 Ernest H. Dunaway ***
30. 1952 Kenneth D. Anderson - PGM ***
31. 1953 Henry T. Bent ***
32. 1954 Oliver W. Smith ***
33. 1955 Delbert D. Shadley ***
34. 1956 William R. Glenn ***
Temple Lodge #51 Chartered in Oracle
T Roman N. Noseck ***
35. 1957 Leslie B. McClellan ***
T Carrick T. Masterson ***
36. 1958 Lawrence G. McCray ***
T William Mathieson ***
37. 1959 Shelby Gill ***
T Vernon D. Staggs ***
38. 1960 Bobbie Lee Gill ***
T Harry L. Rose ***
39. 1961 R. Weldon Dunn ***
T Richard C. Davenport ***
40. 1962 William N. Price ***
T Glenn L. Amis
41. 1963 Richard A. Kidwell - PGM ***
T William G. Moss ***
42. 1964 Charles T. Mason, Jr. - PGM
T Warren A. R. Hawes ***
43. 1965 Samuel H. Martin ***
T Vincent I. Coxon
44. 1966 Owen W. Seagondollar ***
T Harold T. Cassell
45. 1967 Anthony Navarrette ***
T Joseph F. Kohler
46. 1968 Claude Atwater ***
T Warren W. Hawes***
47. 1969 Harry B. Means ***
T George F. Pertle ***
48. 1970 Clyde Hafeli ***
T John B. Dean
49. 1971 Billie J. Cox
T William H. Hogue ***
50. 1972 Robert F. Hannon - PGM
T Harvey L. Thompson ***
51. 1973 Billy G. Hall
T Clarence D. Young ***
52. 1974 George Gustafson ***
T James R. Boone ***
53. 1975 Eugene C. Hamilton
T Louis C. Flowers ***
54. 1976 Robert M. Ackerman ***
T Rudolph W. Hogg ***
55. 1977 Joseph C. Dewey ***
T Frederick E. Winkler, Sr.
56. 1978 Henry Schroder ***
T Marvin V. Hudson
57. 1979 Donald C. Sailors
T William S. Foster
T Marvin V. Hudson (completed Foster's term)
58. 1980 Wendell B. Richins
T Carroll E. Crowson
59. 1981 Eugene C. Lang ***
T Alvin P. Browon
60. 1982 James C. Richards, Jr.
T Frederick E. Winkler, Sr
61. 1983 Robert J. Kemp ***
T Burton C. Sutton ***
62. 1984 E. Michael Turner ***
T George B. Chambers ***
63. 1985 Jeffrey L. Myers
T George B. Chambers ***
64. 1986 J. Michael Atchley
T William L. Swink
65. 1987 Charles R. Bollenberg
T C. A. (Al) Metcalf - PGM
66. 1988 Bernd Schulz
T Robert K. Miller ***
67. 1989 Rex R. Hutchens - PGM
T Hibberd W. Knape
68. 1990 William H. Thayer
T Richard W. Tissaw
69. 1991 Michael K. Rice
T George R. Steiner
70. 1992 Scott A. DeYoung
T Randal K. Wilson ***
71. 1993 Edward L. Moreaux ***
T John S. Baird ***
72. 1994 Charles R. Bollenberg
T G. Dean Jones ***
73. 1995 Keith R. Christiansen ***
T J. Steve Balogh
74. 1996 David W. Beal
T Robert W. Dunwoody ***
75. 1997 Jack F. Zingg, Jr.
T J. Steve Balogh
76. 1998 Donald E. White ***
T Harry L. Larson ***
77. 1999 Joseph H. Hatcher
T C. A. (Al) Metcalf - PGM
76. 2000 Lauren B. Myers***
T William R. (Ray) Eastep, Jr.
80. 2001 Joel D. Mesick
T Robert W. Dunwoody ***
86. 2002 Larry G. Hunt
T Robert L. Hicks
81. 2003 William E. Lofquist
T Stanley W. Fraser
82. 2004 Oscar A. "Alex" Portillo
T Stanley W. Fraser
T John E. Trexel
83. 2005 Ronald W. Richards
T John E. Trexel
84. 2006 Walter L. Mosher
T Charles L. Heard
85. 2007 Richard D. Hanson
T Roy C. Taylor ***
86. 2008 J. Michael Atchley
T Barry E. Emeson
87. 2009 Brian A. Pilz
T Frank J. Prokop
88. 2010 Paul E. D. Overton, III
T James J. Seppala
89. 2011 Brian A. Pilz
T Frank J. Prokop
"T" denotes that the Worshipful Master served Temple Lodge #51 in Oracle, AZ. Temple Lodge #51 consolidated with Epes Randolph Lodge #32 at the Grand Lodge Communication in June 2011.
***deceased
Last Updated January 13, 2012
