Terry Wayne Posey, son of William and Nancy Posey and the oldest of four children, was born in Springfield Ohio on November 9, 1950. He attended the Springfield Public Schools for six years, and completed the remaining six years in the Dayton Public Schools, graduating from Colonel White High School in 1968.
Upon completion of high school, he became employed as a City of Dayton Police Cadet and later as a Police Officer. He was assigned as a Patrol Officer and Detective in the Residential Burglary unit and Street Crimes and Vice. He was later promoted to Police Sergeant, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. During his tenure as a police sergeant, he served in the patrol section, detective section and was the fatal accident section supervisor. He was honored on many occasions, and was nominated on three occasions for the Medal of Valor and was the recipient of this, the highest honor awarded a living police officer, on one occasion.
During his career as a police officer he was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was on the Executive Board of Captain John C. Post Lodge # 44 for 14 years, serving in various positions. He was Editor of the Ohio FOP Magazine for four years and was the Chairman of the Board of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council for four years. He was named Ohio Police Officer of the Year by the Ohio FOP for 1987 and was First Runner-up National Police Officer of the Year by the National FOP in the same year.
He graduated from the University of Dayton magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice in 1983. During his last three years as a police officer, he attended The Capital University Law School in Columbus Ohio, earning a Juris Doctor cum laude in 1987. He was a member of the Pi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and Order of the Coif. He currently is a trial attorney in private practice with the firm of Posey and Caspar of Dayton Ohio. His practice involves primarily personal injury, domestic relations, and representing injured employees before Ohio pension funds.
Brother Posey was married to Cheryl Ann Poskus of South Dennis Massachusetts on July 1, 2000. Cheryl is a Speech Pathologist in private practice. They brought together as a family four children: Terry Posey Jr., Ryan C. Posey, Alita Giacone and Heather Giacone. Terry Jr. and Ryan are attorneys and members of John W. Durst # 716 F. & A.M. Alita is an bookkeeping professional in New York City, and Heather is a physician in Arizona.
Brother Posey was raised a Master Mason on May 13, 1978 at John W. Durst # 716 F. & A.M. at Dayton Ohio and served as its Worshipful Master from 1989-1990. He was elected in 1992 to serve his lodge as Representative to the Dayton Masonic Temple Board of Directors, a position he held for 21 years. He later served as Vice-President for four years and from 1999 until 2003 was President of the Board. He is a plural member of Millennium Lodge # 779 and Morning Star Lodge #795. He was elected to Honorary Membership of 24 Masonic lodges in Ohio.
On August 8, 2011, he was elected to Honorary Membership of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
He served as District Education Officer (1999-2001) and District Deputy Grand Master of the Second Masonic District of Ohio (2001-2002).
Brother Posey was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Victory Chapter #210 at Dayton, Ohio, on December 8, 1982, was received a Royal and Select Master in Silver Trowel Council #141 Cryptic Masons on May 23, 1983, and knighted in Reed Commandery #6 on January 24, 1984. He is a plural member of St. George’s Commandery # 76 and was elected and installed Eminent Commander in 2008. He was invested with the rank and dignity of Knight Commander of the Temple by Most Eminent William H. Koon II, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment on January 4, 2008.
He was elected a Knight Companion of Holy Grail Conclave Red Cross of Constantine in 1999 and is a plural member of Charlemagne Conclave. In 2012, he served as Puissant Sovereign of Charlemagne Conclave.
He is a member of the Thomas Smith Webb Council # 57 Allied Masonic Degrees, serving as its Sovereign Master in 2000.
He received the Demolay Honorary Legion of Honor in 2005.
He was elected and initiated a member of Miami Valley College of the Sovereign York Rite College in 2008. In 2011, he received the Order of the Purple Cross and served as Deputy Grand Governor of Ohio 2012-2013. He is a Charter member VIII Grade, Ohio College, MSRICF, having been initiated in January 2007. He is a member of Irish Council # 6, Knight Masons of the USA and was Excellent Chief in 2012-2013.
He completed the degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the Valley of Dayton in April,1981, and was appointed to the Miami Council Princes of Jerusalem line in April, 1988. At the time of his appointment to the Council line, he served with what was arguably the hardest working line of officers in the history of the Valley of Dayton, which consisted of RWB Dwayne C. Jones (Grand Chaplain 2003), MWB C. Michael Watson (Grand Master 1998), RWB Steven A. Argast (Grand Tyler 1998), RWB Nathan Pelfrey, Jr. (Grand Chaplain 2010), and RWB Howard E. Laudermilk (Grand Chaplain 2006). During this period as a Scottish Rite member, he portrayed many positions in the various degrees. He was elected Sovereign Prince of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem in April 1996 and remained in that position from 1996 to 1998. He was elected to receive the 33rd Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in September 1996 and was coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General on September 23, 1997 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. In June, 1998, following his tenure as Sovereign Prince, he was elected Trustee of the Valley of Dayton Scottish Rite, a position he holds today. On January 1, 2013, he was elected and installed Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Valley of Dayton AASR. He is also the General Counsel of the Valley of Dayton and Dayton Masonic Center.
Brother Posey has been a member of Antioch Shrine since 1982, and served as Shrine Attorney for 14 years. He is a member of the Antioch Oriental Band, and Past Masters Club. He is a member and Past Director of ROJ Dayton Court 10.
Brother Terry and Cheryl are members of Dayton-Victory Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. He is an honorary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7741 in Clayton, Ohio.
He was appointed Trustee of the Ohio Masonic Home Board of Trustees as a representative of the Grand Lodge of Ohio effective January 1, 2009. On April 1, 2012, he was elected and installed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home.
In 2009, he was elected to the Planning and Agenda Committee of the 2010 Conference of Grand Masters of North America to be held in Arlington, Virginia at the 100th Anniversary of the George Washington Memorial.
In October 2011, he was appointed the Chairman of Masonic Jurisprudence for the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a position he currently holds.
On October 19, 2002, Most Worshipful Brother William P. Mayberry Sr. appointed Brother Posey as Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. He was subsequently appointed Senior Grand Deacon, Grand Marshal and Grand Orator. He was then elected Junior Grand Warden, Senior Grand Warden, and Deputy Grand Master.
On October 16, 2009, he was elected and on October 17, 2009 was installed Grand Master of Masons in Ohio at the 200th Communication of the Grand Lodge of Ohio at Toledo.