Member Spotlight: Ill. John Strange, 33˚

Illustrious Brother John E. Strange, a soft spoken true Southern gentleman, you’ve seen him here and there all about the state in many Masonic capacities. He graciously agreed to sit for an interview on June 9, 2025 at the Scottish Rite Library at Albert Pike Masonic Center located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

We started with where he began, born in Memphis, Tennessee on November 9, 1941 and raised in South Memphis to be exact. He attended A.B. Hill Grammar School, Southside High School, Memphis State University, Northwest Mississippi Jr. College in Senatobia and the University of Mississippi where he majored in Marketing and received his bachelor’s degree.

Along his way he acquired skill at welding and early on worked at the Fisher Steel Company, was a golf instructor, and in certain circle was known as the “Ole Miss Sandwich man.” He received this moniker, as selling sandwiches at night to dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses for the University of Mississippi Grille. He reminded that there were no McDonalds and fast food places back in the old days.

After getting his degree in Marketing he set out to be a salesman. Later in the interview when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he replied, “a salesman or lawyer.” He was in the furniture sales industry close to 50 years. His childhood aspiration became his primary vocation. “I traveled close to 50 years, every Monday I was hitting the road.” He was a certified home furnishings rep for the National Home Furnishings Association and Furniture Industry. Some companies he sold for over the years, Little Rock Furniture Manufacturing Company, Memphis Furniture Manufacturing Company and Florida Furniture Industries. Tagged into this is over the years he drove through 10 Cadillacs and 5 Mercedes in calling upon retail stores across Arkansas and Northeast Texas. Rounding out this question about vocations, he still is involved with Pine tree horticulture in Tennessee as a member of the Tennessee Forestry Association and Tree Farmers.

Bro. John Strange working for the University of Mississippi Student Union Grille No. 42

The Scottish Rite Library room was nice and quiet when Ill. Strange answered what

motivated you to work hard or what motivates you now. He replied Duty as primary, then Truth. Lightening the mood he added, When I was a steel extrusion at Fisher Steel I decided this work was too hard and returned to the University to better myself.

Asked does he have a hero after a moment of reflection replied, “Yes, Rudyard Kipling.” Then proceeded to recite, without skipping a beat, all of his favorite poem of Kipling’s - “When Earth’s Last Picture is Painted.”

“When Earth’s last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried, When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died, We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it–lie down for an aeon or two, Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew. And those that were good shall be happy; they shall sit in a golden chair; They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets' hair. They shall find real saints to draw from–Magdalene, Peter, and Paul; They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all!” And only The Master shall praise us, and only The Master shall blame; And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame, But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star, Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They are!”

He went on to say also that his heroes included West Point Graduate and gentleman Robert E. Lee and the father of the modern automotive industry Henry Ford to round out his list of heroes.

Brother John was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on October 26, 1982 at Pulaski Heights Lodge #673. In 1989 and 2018 he was master of the lodge there at Pulaski Heights. Currently serving in the role of Chaplain. As far as his Grand Lodge service, he has served as a DDGM and as the Deputy Grand Lecturer and then as Grand Lecturer in 2023 and 2024 also currently in 2025. He does have his Certified Instructor Card (Blue card) and Second Section of the Masters Degree (Red card). He is a member of the York Rite, Chapter, Council and Commandery.

York Rite College, Royal Order of Scotland, Past member of the Shrine, Past Master Counselor of Demolay in Memphis and the McLemore Chapter of Demolay. He volunteered that his Grand Marquis the “lodge mobile” he drives around now has 300k miles on it. He lets his Mercedes Benz and Monte Carlo have a break every now and then.

Retrospectively he said his proudest accomplishments were three. When he received the Grand Lodge Medal of Honor, when he was coroneted with his 33rd degree and when he received Jesus as his personal savior in 1956.

When you see Ill. Brother John Strange stop and say hello to this truly treasured

Southern Gentleman.

This article was published in the December 2025 edition of the Voice of the Orient.