Wednesday, June 23, 2010

New DeMolay Grand Master

Wesley D. Thornton of New Mexico was installed Grand Master at the 90th Annual Demolay International & Congress Session in Dallas, Texas on June 19, 2010.


RWB Wesley Thornton
Grandmaster
2010-2011

Wesley D. Thornton was born in Levelland, Texas in 1951. His family moved to Farmington, New Mexico in early 1952 where he lived until after graduating from Farmington High School. Brother Thornton began his DeMolay experience in Farmington Chapter (Now James H. Gibson Chapter) in 1968, Farmington, New Mexico. He was initiated in the New Mexico Knighthood Priory in 1969 and held the offices of Master Councilor and Illustrious Knight Commander simultaneously. His DeMolay Honors include PMC-MSA, Blue Honor Key, Representative DeMolay, Chevalier, Legion of Honor and Zerrubabel Key. Dad Thornton was elected as a Deputy Member of the Supreme Council at the 75th Anniversary in 1994, and Active Membership in 1998. He has served the New Mexico DeMolay Association as Director of Finance and Information and as Chairman of the Advisory Council of two different Chapters. He has served two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors of DeMolay International as the Region VII Representative and was elected Grand Junior Councilor June 21, 2008.

Dad Thornton served in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged as an E-5, Staff Sergeant. After the Air Force, he return to college and graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from New Mexico State University. He met and married Robin Graham while attending college. They have two sons, Andrew and Brian, both of whom are Past State Master Councilor's of the New Mexico DeMolay Association.

In 1986, Dad Thornton was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and began Private Practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Mexico Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Brother Thornton is a fourth generation Master Mason and is a twice past master. In 2002 he was appointed as the Charter Master of Edgewood Lodge No. 82 AF&AM;. He is a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Santa Fe and the York Rite Bodies of Farmington. He is also a member of the Ballut Abyad Shrine Center in Albuquerque, where he served as Captain of the Shrine Mounted Patrol and Secretary/Treasurer. He is a Past District Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of New Mexico, Past Treasurer of two Lodges and currently is serving the Grand Lodge of New Mexico as Grand Treasurer.

In December 2003 Brother Thornton received 330, and was elected Treasurer of Valley of Santa Fe Lodge of Perfection, a post he held until 2005.

He has served on the board of directors of the New Mexico Appaloosa Horse Club, and is presently serving on the DeMolay Foundation of New Mexico board of directors as Secretary Treasurer.

The Thornton's are members of Covenant United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico.