ANNUAL CONVENTION Masons seat officers, present awards

Two area men were elevated to high positions in the state Masonic organization.
TOLEDO -- A highlight of the annual Ohio Association of High Twelve Club Convention held in Toledo was the installation of officers on Sept. 17 and the presentation of awards.
James W. Hill of Austintown was inducted as president of High Twelve Clubs and James B. Parker IV of Canfield was sworn in as third vice president of the organization.
Hill is the founder, past president, Masonic representative and historian of Temple on the Hill High Twelve Club 720 of Youngstown and a charter member of the International Convention High Twelve Club. He is also a member of Tri County 674 in Lady Lake, Fla.; Fostoria Club 676 in Fostoria; an Ohio charter member of Western Reserve Club 731 in Medina; a member of Ohio Golden Crescent 637 in Avon; Worthington Club 727 in Grove City, Ohio; Downtown Toledo Club 25 in Toledo; and a charter member of the First Essex High Twelve Club 729 in Essex, England.
Hill also belongs to Wick Lodge 481 in Youngstown, and is a charter member of the Villages Masonic Lodge 394 in Lady Lake.
He is a member of York Rite Bodies in Youngstown, Al Koran Shrine in Cleveland, Youngstown Shrine Club, International Association of Shrine Yacht Clubs, Miriam Chapter Order of Eastern Star 273, a 32nd Degree Mason in the Valley of Youngstown and belongs to the International Society of Photographers in Washington.
Hill and his wife Winnie have five children, 23 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, and are members of Christ Church in Boardman. He served with the U.S. Army Engineers and is retired from work in electronic services.
Also seated
Parker is past worshipful master of Youngstown Lodge 615, past thrice potent master, Hiram Lodge of Perfection Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 32 Degree, Valley of Youngstown; past high priest of Youngstown Chapter 93 Royal Arch Masons; past illustrious master of Buechner Council 107 Royal and Select Masons; a two-time past commander of Niles Commandery 79, and a dual member of St. John's Commandery 20 and Warren Commandery 39; a Senior DeMolay with 48 years of service, past chapter adviser and chairman of the advisory council of Youngstown Chapter Order of DeMolay; past director of educational services and director youth protection for Ohio DeMolay, and a past right worshipful master of the Senior DeMolay Mark Master Lodge in Cleveland.
Parker is also a past seventh arch inspector and is serving as the grand principal conductor of the work of the Grand Council Royal and Select Mason in Ohio.
A member of Miriam Chapter Order of Eastern Star where his wife is associate conductress, Parker is the sentinel of Cleveland College 13 York Rite Sovereign College of North America, past grand cur of the Omnipotent and Effervescent Order of Canine, a member of the Royal Order of Scotland, Aut Mori Grotto, the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, the Philalethes Society, and a member of Killarney Council Knight Masons of Ireland.
He is also past vice president of program and assistant council commissioner of Mahoning Valley Council Boy Scouts of America, a past parliamentarian and chairman of Northside Citizen Coalition, past CEO and chairman of the board of Associated Neighborhood Centers and a past member of the United Way planning and allocations board.
Parker, a U.S. Air Force veteran, taught school for six years and retired as director of engineering after 37 years of service with General Motors in Lordstown. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children.
Conduct ceremony
Installing officer was Wallace B. McCartney, immediate past international president. On the installing team were Roger Hansen, international president; James Satterthwaite, international first vice president; Thomas S. Bevington, international second vice president; Glen Opp, state secretary and past international chaplain; and Armand E. Cote, past international president.
Past president Frank Gordnier presented the gavel to Hill and was the recipient of a Wolcott Heritage Bon presented by Winnie Hill, president of the Twelvettess.
Hill presented an award from the Wolcott Club to George H. Wadge, Wolcott Foundation trustee, and Four Star awards to McCartney, Opp, Thomas Lengel, Melvin Jones, Ronald Ebert, Harold Vaughn, Wadge, Thomas M. Major, Merlyn Meredith, Howard Russell, William Weems and the Acacia Club, Howard C. Bodine Jr., John R. Selders, P. Glenn Ellis, Dr. John R. Vargo, Donald Booth, George Fehlner, Raymond Huish, Victor Woodworth and Parker.