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 at age 24. 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 and business man, and was 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 14 years as a school board Trustee and served as President in 1944, to name a few.
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 later 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 Treasurer 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, Betty.
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 previously 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 13 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 which 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 35 years of his time and service. His body was interned in the Evergreen Cemetery, not too far from the 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
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
35. * 1957 Leslie B. McClellan
36. * 1958 Lawrence G. McCray
37. * 1959 Shelby Gill
38. * 1960 Bobbie Lee Gill
39. * 1961 R. Weldon Dunn
40. * 1962 William N. Price
41. * 1963 Richard A. Kidwell - PGM
42. 1964 Charles T. Mason, Jr. - PGM
43. * 1965 Samuel H. Martin
44. * 1966 Owen W. Seagondollar
45. * 1967 Anthony Navarrette
46. 1968 Claude Atwater
47. * 1969 Harry B. Means
48. 1970 Clyde Hafeli
49. 1971 Billie J. Cox
50. 1972 Robert F. Hannon - PGM
51. 1973 Billy G. Hall
52. * 1974 George Gustafson
53. 1975 Eugene C. Hamilton
54. * 1976 Robert M. Ackerman
55. * 1977 Joseph C. Dewey
56. * 1978 Henry Schroder
57. 1979 Donald C. Sailors
58. 1980 Wendell B. Richins
59. ** 1981 Eugene C. Lang
60. 1982 James C. Richards, Jr.
61. 1983 Robert J. Kemp
62. 1984 E. Michael Turner
63. 1985 Jeffrey L. Myers
64. 1986 J. Michael Atchley
65. 1987 Charles R. Bollenberg
66. 1988 Bernd Schulz
67. 1989 Rex R. Hutchens - PGM
68. 1990 William H. Thayer
69. 1991 Michael K. Rice
70. 1992 Scott A. DeYoung
71. 1993 Edward L. Moreaux
72. 1994 Charles R. Bollenberg
73. * 1995 Keith R. Christiansen
74. 1996 David W. Beal
75. 1997 Jack F. Zingg, Jr.
76. 1998 Donald E. White
77. 1999 Joseph H. Hatcher
78. * 2000 Lauren B. Myers
80. 2001 Joel D. Mesik
86. 2002 Larry G. Hunt
81. 2003 William E. Lofquist
82. 2004 Oscar A. "Alex" Portillo
83. 2005 Richard W. Richards
84. 2006 Walter L. Mosher
85. 2007 Richard D. Hanson
81. 2008 J. Michael Atchley
Last Updated January 20, 2008
