James Darwin Baccus

James D. Buddy 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 1963-64. Plural Member of Rosenberg Lodge No. 881, Jacques DeMolay Lodge No. 1390, Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417 and Charter Member of J.W. Chandler Daylight Lodge No. 1452, Temple Lodge No. 4 and Solidarity Lodge No. 1457. Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Finland since 1978. Presented a Life Certificate of Proficiency in December 1981. Served the Grand Lodge of Texas as Region 4 Coordinator for the Grand Master’s Conferences for six years, Committee on Grand Officer’s Reports, District Deputy Grand Master in 1974, Grand Tiler in 1976, and Grand Master in 1983.

Exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Park Place Chapter No. 458, R.A.M. on April 26, 1957. Served as High Priest 1968-69. Plural Member of Will N. Kidd Chapter No. 424 and Houston Chapter No. 488. Received the Order of High Priesthood in December 1969. Grand Representative of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Germany near Texas since 1974. Served the Grand Chapter of Texas as: District Deputy Grand High Priest in 1971, Credentials Committee for 20 years, and Grand High Priest in 1990.

Greeted a Royal and Select Master in Park Place Council No. 373, R.&S.M. on April 26, 1957. Served as Thrice Illustrious Master in 1968-1969. Plural Member of San Jacinto Council No. 347 and Sam Houston Council No. 403. Received the Super Excellent Masters Degree in 1957 and the Order of the Silver Trowel in 1969. Grand Representative of the Grand Council of North Carolina near Texas since 1971. Served the Grand Council as: Grand Marshal in 1972, District Deputy Grand Master in 1973,Grand Steward in 1987, Credentials Committee for 20 years, and elected R:I: Grand Principal Conductor of the Work on December 3, 1991. Elected Grand Master of the Grand Council of Texas on December 7, 1993.

Knighted in Park Place Commandery No. 106, K.T. on November 23, 1957. Served as Commander in 1967. Grand Representative of the Grand Commandery of New Mexico near Texas. Served the Grand Commandery of Texas as Grand Commander in 1977-78.

Became a member of the Houston Scottish Rite Bodies on November 2, 1963. Served as Master of Kadosh of Houston Consistory in 1976 and General Membership Chairman for two years. Member of the Royal Order of the Ducks. Invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor on October 31, 1969, Coroneted with the Rank and Dignity of a 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary on November 19, 1975 and appointed as Chairman of the Inspector General’s Advisory Conference and Personal Representative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General on July 26, 1988.

Initiated a Noble in Arabia Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., on May 14, 1960. Member of the Past Master’s Association, Shrine Patrol, and Circus Roustabouts. Served as Potentate in 1988.

Other Memberships, Orders and Honors are: Life Member and Past Prior of the Texas Priory No. 23, Knight York Cross of Honour and Charter Member of Thomas H. Ridout, Jr. Priory No. 75. 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. Member of the Gulf Coast York Rite College No. 106. Life Member of Chinar Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R. Member of the Royal Order of Scotland. 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. Member of Waco Court No. 115, Royal Order of Jesters.

Having served as M:W: Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1983; R:E: Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Texas in 1978; M:E: Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Texas in 1991; and Companion Baccus upon completing his term as M:I: Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas in December 1994, has become known as a “Four-Star General”.

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