Please introduce yourself. Tell us your name, where you’re from, how long you’ve been an Ohio Mason, your home Lodge, and any positions you may hold today.
My name is Terry Posey and I was born in Springfield, Ohio and have lived within 25 miles of the center of town my entire life. I am currently a resident of Centerville, Ohio in the southern part of Montgomery County.
My home lodge is John W. Durst #716 at the Dayton Masonic Center (DMC) and I am a 46-year member. I am also a plural member of Millennium Lodge also at the DMC and Morning Star Lodge at the Ohio Masonic Community. I am an honorary member of 28 Ohio lodges and in 2011, I was the first brother from the Grand Lodge of Ohio to be named an honorary member of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
Currently and for the last 12 years, I have been the Chairman of the Board of the Valley of Dayton Scottish Rite. I have also been an officer, trustee, and chairman of my Valley for the past 36 years.
Finally, I was a Trustee of the Ohio Masonic Communities from 2009-2012. For the next 10 years I was Chairman and currently serve as the first Vice Chairman.
How did you find Freemasonry?
As a child living in Springfield I saw the “Home on the Hill” (our Ohio Masonic Home) several times a week. My grandparents lived on Springfield-North Hampton Road, which is now Shrine Road, about two miles away.
Some years later, in 1978, I was active in the Fraternal Order of Police while I was a Dayton Police Officer. Returning from a meeting in Hamilton County one night, my friend Paul Banks said those magic words, “I think you’d be a good Mason.”
He, Roger Delong, Tom McAllister and others supported me through my degrees. At that time, John W. Durst Lodge was known as the “police officer” lodge, because about 25-30 officers were members. In 1981, after being raised a Master Mason, I became an officer of the lodge but unfortunately had to step out of line while I was attending law school.
I finished law school, passed the bar exam in 1988, and went straight back into the line. I served as Worshipful Master of my lodge from 1989 to 1990. 20 years later after what I thought was a lot of hard work, timing and extraordinary good luck, I was elected and installed Most Worshipful Grand Master at the 200th Grand Communication of our Grand Lodge.
What initially kept you coming back to Lodge?
As a police officer, I ran into many people that represented the worst of society. At Lodge, I found the complete opposite. They liked being around me, and I liked being around them. I met the finest men I will ever know in Masonic lodges.
Other than serving as Grand Master, what is something you’re proud of in your Masonic journey?
I worked hard to encourage the various bodies of Freemasonry to work together. Before the Masonic year began, each of the presiding officers of Grand Bodies, Donald Losasso (Grand High Priest); William Laughlin (Grand Illustrious Master); Thomas Ramsay (Grand Commander); Pat Lively (Eminent Prior) and Neil Smalley (Deputy for Ohio) and I decided to attend each other’s Blue Lodge inspections. We warned each other that with weather, illness, and work, this may not evolve. However, we each attended our six inspections, as did nearly 1,000 other Masons. It was a highlight.
Is there someone you’ve met that inspired you to be a better man and Mason? Tell us about them.
I have met many men who inspired me to be a better man and Mason, but most especially my two sons Terry Jr. and Ryan.
Terry Jr. is now a 26 year Mason and Ryan is a 23 year Mason. I talk, email or text my sons just about every day. Perhaps they were tired of it in college, but I know that my sons can feel my imminent support. They are both lawyers and good family men; Ryan is the best dad I know. Terry has battled health problems recently but has fought those problems with strength and devotion to God. He is a skilled litigator and Appellate specialist. I always wanted them to be proud of me.
If I tried to list names of men I respected greatly and who I met through the fraternity, I would miss someone and I would hate that.
Is there anything else about your time as Grand Master you would like to share?
- When I told my wife Cheryl that we had to go somewhere for a Masonic event, she generally replied, “What should I wear?” She never had any complaints. She knew she was supporting me and there was a place for her in an event.
- My District and my Lodge supported me without hesitation.
- My Grand Chaplain (Nathan Pelfrey), Grand Tyler (Clifford Koss) and Junior Grand Deacon (Douglas Kaylor) were and remain great friends.
- After an 8 year trial of not appointing District Education Officers and putting education on the backs of District Deputy Grand Masters, I reinstated the position of District Education Officer and it was a good decision.
- I received the advice of Past Grand Masters whose advice was taken as it was given – with respect. While I did not always follow it, I listened. As Grand Master, when your decision affects people, when you are up against it, when people are looking at you, when your brow is wet, ultimately it is your own decision. Being sure comes from reading the history of our Grand Lodge, knowing the Code, listening to people and being willing to take the heat.
Read more of our interviews with Past Grand Masters like Bro. Braatz and Bro. Murphy!