James Darwin (Buddy) Baccus

James D. Baccus was born in Teague, Texas on July 24, 1926, and was educated in the Public Schools of Teague and Sulphur Springs, graduating from Sulphur Springs High School. Served in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He married Bettye Zeve Schoenfeld of Fort Worth. There are four children, three daughters and one son, and ten grandchildren. Retired from the Port Terminal Railroad Association after 42 years of service.

MASONIC HISTORY

Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on May 2, 1956 in Park Place Lodge No. 1172, A.F. & A.M. Served as Worshipful Master 1963-1964. District Deputy Grand Master in 1974, Grand Tiler of the Grand Lodge in 1976. Elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of Texas Masons on December 4, 1982. Has served as Secretary of Park Place Lodge No. 1172, A.F. & A.M. since 1972. Presented a Life Certificate of Proficiency by Committee on Work, December 1981. Served as Regional Coordinator for the Grand Master’s Regional Conference Region 4 for six years. Presently serving on the Committee on Grand Officer’s Reports of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Plural Member of Rosenberg Lodge No. 881, Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417 and J.W. Chandler Daylight Lodge No. 1452.

Exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Park Place Chapter No. 458, R.A.M. on April 26, 1957. Dual Member of Will N. Kidd Chapter No. 424, R.A.M. Served as High Priest 1968-1969 and District Deputy Grand High Priest in 1971. Served 20 years on the Credentials Committee. Appointed Grand Representative to Germany near the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas in 1974. Received the Order of High Priesthood in December 1969. Elected Right Excellent Grand King on December 8, 1987 and was elected Most Excellent Grand High Priest on December 5, 1989.

Greeted a Royal and Select Master in Park Place Council No. 373, R.&S.M. on April 26, 1957, Dual Member of San Jacinto Council No. 347, R.&S.M. Served as Thrice Illustrious Master in 1968-1969. Appointed Grand Representative of North Carolina near the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas in 1971. Served as District Deputy Grand Master in 1972. Received the Super Excellent Masters Degree in 1957 and the Order of the Silver Trowel in 1969. Served as Grand Marshal in 1972.

Knighted in Park Place Commandery No. 106, K.T. on November 23, 1957. Served as Commander in 1967 and Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas in 1977-1978.

Became a member of the Houston Scottish Rite Bodies on November 2, 1963. Invested with the K.C.C.H. on October 31, 1969, Coroneted a 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary on November 19, 1975. Past Master of Kadosh of Houston Consistory and served two years as General Membership Chairman. Appointed Chairman Sovereign Grand Inspector General’s Advisory Conference on July 26, 1988.

Initiated a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Arabia Temple, May 14, 1960. Served as Potentate in 1988. Member of the Past Master’s Association and the Shrine Patrol.

Other Memberships, Orders and Honors are: Life Member and Past Prior of the Texas Priory No. 23, Knight York Cross of Honour. Life Member and Past Preceptor of Resurrection Tabernacle No. 21, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests. Past Sovereign of St. Austin Conclave Red Cross of Constantine and a Dual Member with San Jacinto Conclave, Houston, Texas. Member of the Gulf Coast York Rite College No. 106, Houston, Texas. Member of the Royal Order of Scotland, Life Member of Chinar Grotto. Member of the Texas Lodge of Research and the Philalethes Society. Invested with the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor and the Cross of Honor. Received the Grand Cross of Color from the International Order of Rainbow for Girls.

Obituary

J. D. BUDDY BACCUS, Born in Teague Texas on July 24, 1926, left this worldly realm to serve the Grand Architect of the Universe on June 1, 2008, from Houston, TX after a short illness with Cancer. "Buddy" as he is best known as, served in the US Navy during WW II, where he saw action in several battles, earning five battle stars while serving on the USS Nashville. He was involved in the liberation of the Philippine Islands. Upon returning to Texas he went to work at the Port Terminal Rail Road, where he later retired after 42 years of service. Grand Master Baccus was very active in the Masonic Fraternity and with most of its appendant bodies in Texas. Because of his stature in the Houston area, he was thought of as Mr. Mason in the Houston area. He was considered in the Masonic Order, a "Four Star General" which means that he served as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas in 1977-78, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1983, Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas in 1990, and Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas in 1993. Buddy was Coroneted a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason in 1975 in the Houston Scottish Rite Bodies. He later became the Personal Representative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the Houston Bodies in 1988 and held this important position until 2006 when he had to depart because of the age requirement. He held this post longer than any other person. He also served as Potentate of Arabia Shrine Temple in 1988, and was serving as its Recorder at the time of his death. Buddy's Masonic Record also includes memberships in many of the following organizations: Grotto, HRAKTP, Red Cross of Constantine, Royal Order of Jesters, Royal Order of Scotland, Knight York Cross of Honor, and others. He has been honored by receiving: the Honorary Legion of Honor and the Cross of Honor from the International Order of DeMolay, The Grand Cross of Colors from the Order of the Rainbow for Girls, The Order of the Purple Cross from the Grand York Rite College. Buddy was one of the most respected and admired Masons in Texas. He worked diligently in the fraternity and was well liked by those he came into contact with. His ability to do degree work in the many facets of Masonry put him head and shoulders above most. He continued his degree work and in 2007, obtained his fifty-year Life Certificate of Proficiency from the Grand Lodge of Texas. Not many ever get to achieve this status. Buddy is survived by his most special person to his heart, his American Express Card, and wife of thirty-years, Bettye Z. Baccus, son, Michael James Baccus, three daughters: Pandora Blankenship and husband, Gary, Sherrie Siegworth, and Lorna Rodriguez; brother, Billie Ray Baccus and sister Dorothy Marie Ragan, Grand Children: Michael Shawn Baccus, Matthew Baccus, Natalie Brooks, Hayley Baccus, Evan Siegworth, Lori Corona, Nicole Rodriguez, Noah Rodriguez, Christopher Blankenship, Catherine Blankenship; Great Grand Children: Ashley and Jordan Corona, Taylor and Brooke Baccus, Micha Brooks, Special Nephews: David and Rosemarie Devido, Joel Davis, and Dr. Stephen Davis; as well as many friends and Brother Masons. Jacques DeMolay and Park Place Masonic Lodges have both established Scholarships in the name of J.D. Buddy Baccus. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Buddy Baccus Scholarship Fund. Donations can be mailed to the Buddy Baccus Scholarship Fund at 4911 Montrose, Houston, Texas 77006. Masonic and Religious services will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 10:30 AM, Congregation Emanu El, located at 1500 Sunset, in Houston, Texas 77005. Graveside services will follow at Greenwood Memorial Park, 3100 White Settlement, Ft Worth, Texas 76107 on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at 10:45AM.

Source: Houston Chronicle