Ronald L. Winnett was born September 2, 1942 in Wheeling, WV, the son of Orvil C. Winnett and Iona Moore Winnett. He attended public schools in Wheeling through his junior year of high school. While still in Wheeling, he was active in Boy Scouts and joined the Wheeling Chapter, Order of DeMolay.
Near the end of his junior year, his father was transferred to Columbus, OH so he finished school at North High School, graduating in 1961. After moving, he transferred to Aladdin Chapter, Order of DeMolay and helped lead his Chapter to its first state basketball championship.
After high school, he worked at Bowman Pharmaceutical Company while attending Columbus Business University at night taking business law and accounting. Later he was promoted to a sales representative calling on doctors and hospitals over three states.
One day he received a letter that Uncle Sam was interested in him so he decided he wanted to control his destiny and he joined the United States Army in February 1964. Through his 32 years of service both active and reserve, he attended several schools for education in the medical field, finance and leadership. The last sixteen years of his service were spent working with the Director of Civilian Marksmanship in Washington D.C., assisting in the running of the National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, OH. At the same time, he was the Sergeant Major of a Medical Battalion (Dental). He retired in September 1997.
All the while, in keeping busy with his military duties, he also worked for Western Electric, a.k.a. ATT and Lucent Technologies from which he retired in 2002. He remarked that sometimes he did not know which his “part time job” was.
He was also honored by being commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in 1985 by Governor Martha L. Collins.
Ron and Linda were married in November 1993. They have four children between them: Michele, Jonathan, Douglas and Gregory. They also have eight grandchildren.
Ron is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Most Worshipful Brother Winnett was raised in Grove City Lodge #689 on May 11, 1981, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1990. He was elected to the line of the Fourteenth District Masonic Officers Association in 1991 and served as President in 1995. At the present, he is an honorary member of six symbolic Lodges around the state.
He is a member of Westgate Chapter #216, Westgate Council #129, Willis Commandery #82, Thomas Smith Webb York Rite College, Andrew J. White #245 Allied Masonic Degrees, Royal Order of Scotland and St. Jerome Conclave Red Cross of Constantine.
Ron has been a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus since 1983. In 1983, he also became a member of the Aladdin Shrine where he is a member of the Past Master Unit and Royal Order of Jesters. He also holds membership in Columbus Chapter #10 National Sojourners and the Grove City Chapter #602 Order of the Eastern Star. He has been elected to receive the 33rd Degree in 2008.
He was appointed a District Deputy Grand Master of the Fourteenth Masonic District in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
In October 2000, he was appointed Junior Grand Deacon by Most Worshipful Brother Jack L. Allen. He was subsequently appointed to Senior Grand Deacon, Grand Marshal and Grand Orator. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 2004, Senior Grand Warden in 2005, and Deputy Grand Master in 2006. On October 20, 2007, he was installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio.