James Noel Higdon

2004 Officer Corps

ALAMO LODGE NO. 44, A.F.& A.M.

Initiated as Entered Apprentice Mason, 10/20/76.
Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft Mason, 01/07/77.
Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, 02/18/77.

Elected, Installed and Served as:
TREASURER06/85–06/89, 06/05–
WORSHIPFUL MASTER 06/80–06/81
SENIOR WARDEN 06/79–06/80
JUNIOR WARDEN 06/78–06/79

Appointed, Installed and Served as:
MASTER OF CEREMONIES 06/89–06/90
JUNIOR STEWARD 06/77–06/78

Awarded Golden Trowel Award by Lodge �10/08
Presented with Endowed Membership bought by a Lodge member and the Lodge–06/90
Awarded Life Membership by the Lodge for service to Lodge–06/82
Member, numerous Lodge committees annually since 1977
Member, Lodge Degree teams regularly since 1977
Awarded Certificate of Proficiency in Esoteric Work 1980-1990, 1992-1998;2000�2008.
Awarded Life Certificate of Proficiency in Esoteric Work 2009
Lodge Instructor in Esoteric Work since 1980
LodgeFuneral Master since 1986 conducting Masonic graveside services for deceasedMasons Served as Election Master 06/12/96, 06/10/98
Served as Installation Master 06/25/86 and Installation Master ofCeremonies 7/16/93
Chair, 39th Masonic District’s Sixth Annual Outdoor Degree Committee(hosted on 05/01/82 by Alamo Lodge) 06/81–06/82.
Organized firstAll-Attorney Degree Team in San Antonio for conferral of all three degrees, commencingin 1997.

BLUEBONNET CHAPTER NO. 470,ROYAL ARCH MASON (R.A.M.)

Received Degrees of Mark Master, Past Master, andMost Excellent Master on 1/24/81.
Received Degree of Royal Arch Mason on 1/25/81.
Elected, Installed and Served as:
TREASURER06/85–06/89,06/04�
MOST EXCELLENT HIGH PRIEST 06/83–06/84
and 06/99�06/01
EXCELLENT KING 06/82–06/83
CAPTAIN OF THE HOST 06/81–06/82
Member, Chapter Degree Team annually since 1982
Awarded and Presented with Cornerstone Award by Chapter�9/10/2011
Admitted to ORDER OF THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD 08/10/85

BLUEBONNET COUNCIL NO. 409, ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS (R.&S.M.)

Received Degrees of Royal Master and Select Master on 1/25/81.
Elected, Installed and Served as:
TREASURER 06/85�06/89,06/04�
THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS MASTER 06/84�06/85
RIGHTILLUSTRIOUS DEPUTY MASTER 06/83�06/84
ILLUSTRIOUSPRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR OF WORK 06/82�06/83
06/99�06/01
CONDUCTOROF THE COUNCIL 06/81�06/82
Member, Council Degree Team annually since 1982
Awarded and Presented with CrypticTriangle Award by Council�9/10/2011
Received SUPEREXCELLENT MASTER Degree 05/16/81
Admitted to ORDEROF THE SILVER TROWEL 08/10/85

SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERY NO. 7, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (K.T.)

Received Order of Red Cross and Mediterranean Pass,Order of Malta, and Order ofthe Temple on 1/25/81.
Endowed Membership, 01/10/92
Elected, Installed and Served as:
EMINENT COMMANDER 01/92�01/93
CAPTAINGENERAL 01/91�01/92
SENIORWARDEN01/90�01/91
JUNIORWARDEN01/89�01/90
STANDARDBEARER 01/88�01/89
SWORDBEARER 01/87�01/88
WARDER 03/86�01/87
Appointed, Installed and Served as:
PRELATE 01/97�01/98
SENTINEL 01/86�03/86
GUARD 01/85�01/85
Member, Order of the Red Cross Degree Team 1991–97
Member, Order of the Temple Degree Team 1985–1994
Member, Knight Templar Eye Foundation 01/83–
Patron,01/83
GrandMaster’s Club ($1,000.00 donation), since May 1988.
GrandCommander�s Club ($100.00 donation).
Member & Chair, By-Laws Committee 01/87–01/92
Member, Knights Templar Eye Foundation Committee 01/87�01/92, 01/99�
Chair, Membership Committee 01/93�01/95
Member, Board of Directors, H. C. DAVIS FOUNDATION by virtue of office ofEminent Commander (Masonic Relief organization serving needy Masons and theirfamilies who reside in the 39th Masonic District.) 1/92–1/93.
Recipient, Grand Encampment Knight Templar of USAMembership Medal (Top line signer on petition for 10 new members) 7/94; Bronzeattachment (5 additional new members), 2/99.
Chair/Organizer, San Antonio Commandery Easter Observance 1991�2000.
Chair, Easter Service Committee 01/99�11/01
Chair, Grand Conclave 2005 Committee 01/97�06/05
Member, Patriotic/Civic Committee 01/99�01/2004;01/2006–
Member, Eye Foundation Committee 01/2006–

SAN MARCOS COMMANDERY NO. 56, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (K.T.)

Elected to membership: 2005
Endowed Membership � 01/31/2006
Patron Member, Knight Templar Eye Foundation, 02/11.

BROWNWOOD COMMANDERY NO. 22, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (K.T.)

Elected to membership.

ORDER OF KNIGHTS PRECEPTOR

Charter Member, 4/28/96.
(Membership limited to Knights Templar who haveserved as Commander of their Commandery.)

THE GRAND LODGE OF TEXAS,
ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTEDMASONS (A.F.& A.M.)

Appointed, Installed and Served as:
R:W: GRAND ORATOR, 12/10-12/11 (T.E. �Gene�Carnes, MWGM)
DISTRICTDEPUTY GRAND MASTER, Masonic District 39A, 12/88–12/89 (Leonard P. Harvey,MWGM)
DISTRICT MASONICRELATIONS OFFICER, Masonic District 39A, 12/89–12/93
(District 39A is composed of 9 of 25 Masonic Lodges in San Antonio metropolitan area. DDGM is thePersonal Representative of the Grand Master of Masons in Texas in District. DMRO is the PersonalRepresentative of the Grand Master of Masons in Texas for public relations and charityaffairs in District.)
Appointed and Served as:
Member, Ben MilamReinterment Ad Hoc Committee 8/94–3/95.
Member, Civil LawCommittee f/k/a Title, Deeds & Civil Law Committee 12/98�12/05
TrialMaster, Independence Lodge No. 1337 (Corpus Christi) v. James R. Woods 2/99�5/99; LafayetteLodge No. 34 (La Grange)v. Erik Cameron 08/31/02
Member, MasonicJurisprudence Committee 12/2005�12/2008
Member, Masonic Purposes and Policies Committee 12/2008�12/2013
District 39 RegionalCoordinator, 12/05-12/06
Master ofCeremonies, Alamo Observance (First Weekend inMarch) for MWGM Brian R. Dodson (2006); MWGM David Counts (2009); MWGM OrvilleL. O�Neill (2010); MWGM T.E. �Gene� Carnes (2011).
Member, Board of Directors, H. C. DAVIS FOUNDATION byvirtue of office as DDGM
(Masonic Relief organization serving needy Masons and their families whoreside in the 39th Masonic District.) 12/1/88–12/2/89.
Full Member, Sam Houston Hall of Fame (Foundation whose full members arepersons who contribute or in whose name is contributed $1,000.00 or more tosupport and maintenance of Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum of Texas)1/94.

THE GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF TEXAS

Appointed and Served as:
Capitular Region E, MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR, 12/93–12/94
(Region E was then composed of 15 Royal ArchChapters in the South Texas area.)
YORK RITE CONFERENCECOORDINATOR for San Antonio Area for conference held on 4/30/94
Member,Memorials Committee 12/94–12/95
Member,Credentials Committee 12/95�12/97
Member,Purposes & Policies Committee 12/97�12/98
Member,Jurisprudence Committee 12/98�12/01;12/04�10/09
(Chair, 12/04�12/06, 10/08-10/09)
Appointed, Installed and Served as:
DISTRICTDEPUTY GRAND HIGH PRIEST, Capitular District 23 12/97–12/98(Orville L. O�Neill, MEGHP)

THE GRAND COUNCIL, ROYAL & SELECT MASTERS OF TEXAS

Appointed, Installed andServed as: Member, New Councils Committee, 12/98�12/99
Member,Jurisprudence Committee, 12/01�10/06;10/09�10/14 (Chair, 12/2001�12/02; 10/10� )
Appointed, Installed and Served as:
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRANDMASTER, Cryptic District 23 12/99–12/2000(Farris L. Benham, MIGM)

THE GRAND COMMANDERY KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF TEXAS

Elected to receive appointment as KNIGHT COMMANDER OF TEMPLE by The Grand Encampment of KnightsTemplar of the United States of America;presented the award by Kenneth B. Fischer, Most Eminent Grand Master, The GrandEncampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America on August6, 2005
Elected, Installed and Served as:
RIGHT EMINENT GRANDCOMMANDER (Sesquicentennial Grand Commander during the Sesquicentennial ofThe Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas(Formed in San Antonioin January 1855; Celebrated in San Antonio in March & April 2005) 04/19/04-04/18/05
VERY EMINENT DEPUTYGRAND COMMANDER (Grand Officer for Templar District 4) 04/02-04/03
EMINENT GRANDGENERALISSIMO (Grand Officer for Templar District 7) 04/02-04/03
EMINENT GRAND CAPTAINGENERAL (Grand Officer for Templar District 5) 04/01-04/02
EMINENT GRAND SENIORWARDEN (Grand Officer for Templar District 6) 04/00-04/01
EMINENTGRAND JUNIOR WARDEN (Grand Officer for Templar District 2) 04/99-04/00
EMINENTGRAND STANDARD BEARER (Grand Officer for Templar District 1) 04/98-04/99
EMINENTGRAND SWORD BEARER (Grand Officer for Templar District 8) 04/97-04/98
EMINENTGRAND WARDER (Grand Officer for Templar District 3) 04/96-04/97
Appointed and Served as:
EMINENT GRAND PRELATE(for R:E: Gr.Cdr. Thomas W. Snyder) 04/07-04/08
CO-CHAIR, TEMPLARDISTRICT 4 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, 04/92–04/93
CHAIR, TEMPLAR DISTRICT4 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, 04/93�04/96
Editor, Texas Supplement toKnight Templar Magazine, 04/04�04/06
Member, JurisprudenceCommittee, 04/2006�04/2011 (Chair 4/2007�4/2010 ).
State Coordinator, Knight Templar Eye Foundation Annual Campaign,04/11–

THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Appointed andserved as Grand Commandery Coordinator for The Grand Commandery Knights Templarof Texas, byM:E: William H. Koon, II (2009-2012).
Appointed and served as a Member, Jurisprudence Committee,by M:E: Kenneth B. Fischer, then M:E: Grand Master, during the 63rd Triennialin Houston(August 11-16, 2006) when no then appointed members could be present.

TEXIAN YORK RITE COLLEGENO. 60

Elected to Membership and made a Knight of York,02/09/85.
Elected, Installed and Served as:
PREEMINENTGOVERNOR 05/94�05/95
EMINENTDEPUTY GOVERNOR 05/93�05/94
EMINENTCHANCELLOR 05/92�05/93
Appointed, Installed and Served as:
MARSHAL 05/86�05/87
Master of Ceremonies at Annual York Rite Receptionfor Worshipful Masters of Masonic District 39 and surrounding Districts,08/21/94, 08/25/96, 08/23/98, 08/27/00.

THE YORK RITESOVEREIGN COLLEGEOF NORTH AMERICA:
ORDER OF THE PURPLE CROSS.

Honor and degree conferred/received at annual Assembly in Nashville, TN,7/28-29/95, following prior election by Regents and Associate Regents of TexianCollege #60.
ASSOCIATE REGENT. Honor and title conferred/received at annualAssembly in Nashville, TN, 7/28-29/95, following prior election byRegents and Associate Regents of Texian College #60.
Appointed and Served as:
Member,Jurisprudence Committee 08/98�08/2000.
Member,Legal Advisory Committee 08/98�08/2000;08/2003�08/2006; 08/2006�08/2009

TEXIAN PRIORY NO. 78, KNIGHTYORK CROSS OF HONOR

Charter Member, 6/18/94.
Appointed and Served as:
LodgeLecturer 05/95�05/97; (Back-up Lecturer: 5/97� )
CommanderyLecturer 08/13/05 (Back-up Lecturer 05/2000�)
Elected, Installed and Served as:
Deputy Prior 05/11–
Knight Warder05/10�05/11 (Installed by Proxy)
Knight Orator 05/09�05/10

TEXAS PRIORY NO. 23, KNIGHT YORK CROSS OF HONOR

Elected to Membership, 04/18/93.
Appointed and Served as:
Lodge Lecturer for conferral on 04/18/2000.
Commandery Lecturer for conferral on 04/18/2004,12/05/04, 04/18/05, 04/15/06.

ST. ANTHONY CONCLAVE, RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE

Elected to Membership, 04/18/92.
Elected andServed as
PUISSANT SOVEREIGN 11/20/04�11/19/05
VICEROY 12/20/03�12/18/04
SENIORGENERAL 12/21/02�12/20/03
PRELATE 12/15/01�12/21/02
PREFECT 12/16/00�12/15/01
STANDARDBEARER 12/18/99�12/16/00
HERALD 12/19/98�12/18/99
SENTINEL 04/04/98�12/19/98
RECORDER 01/21/95�04/04/98

NAZARETH TABERNACLE NO. XXXVIII
HOLY ROYAL ARCH KNIGHT TEMPLAR PRIESTS

Elected to Membership, 12/13/97.
Ordained a Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest, 12/12/98.
Elected, Installed and Served as:
EMINENT DEPUTY PRIOR 12/11/10�12/10/11
VII PILAR 12/12/09�12/11/10
VI PILLAR 12/13/08�12/12/09
V PILLAR 12/01/07�12/13/08
III PILLAR(Installed by proxy) 12/0906�12/01/07

Obituary

James Noel Higdon died on Saturday, March 4, 2018. Born October 20, 1944, Jim was a family lawyer with the firm of Higdon, Hardy, Zuflacht. He was predeceased by his parents W. Dain and Jean Higdon and infant son James Travis. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Barbara Downing Higdon, sons Travis N. Higdon (wife Janet) of Los Angeles, California, and C. Andrew Higdon (wife Jennifer) of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren Riley, Park, Haddon and Byrd; his sister Janice Higdon, brother Dain Higdon, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

A graduate of Alamo Heights High School, Jim attended the University of Texas at Austin on a Navy ROTC scholarship and graduated in 1967. He became a pilot in the USN and served a total of six years active duty. In Pensacola, Jim earned an MBA before leaving the Navy to go to St. Mary’s Law School. He then served 18 years in the USN Reserves, retiring with the rank of Captain.

Jim was literally a man of many hats and was rarely seen without his trademark fedoras. He was recognized as an expert for military related family law matters in the State of Texas and others, having represented clients in a number of other states in the drafting or prosecuting/defense of the military retirement division language and civil service retirement matters.

A life-long Christian, he was a deacon at Woodland Baptist Church. A serial joiner, Jim was a past-president of Oak Hills Rotary Club and a member/officer in too many Masonic organizations to list. His life as a Freemason played the biggest role, filling his calendar with weekly activities. Raised in Alamo Lodge No. 44, Jim is a Past Master of that Lodge and has served as Treasurer for more than 15 years. As a Past Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Texas and a past national president of National Sojourners, Inc., Jim found those two organizations to merge his Christian faith and his military background and love of Masonry.

Memorial services will be held at Woodland Baptist Church, 15315 Huebner Road at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 9. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. 1033 Long Prairie Road, Suite 5, Flower Mound TX 75022, Woodland Baptist Church, or to a charity of your choice.