Grand Secretary - RWB Ronald D. Miller

R.W. Bro. Ronald D. Miller of Kirksville, Mo., comes from a distinguished educational career as both teacher and administrator. He served as Athletic Director of the Kirksville R-III School District from 1986 to 1997 where he coached basketball and supervised a staff of 23 coaches and the related athletic budget. Prior to that he had taught drivers education and adaptive physical education to handicapped students. From 1967-74 he taught drivers education and coached basketball, track, and tennis at Alton, IL., Sr. High School while also teaching physical education and coaching basketball, football, and track at Kirksville R-III Jr. High School. For nine years he was also well-known as a basketball referee in the Northeast Missouri area.

R.W. Bro. Miller received the BSE Degree from Truman State University, Kirksville, in 1964 and the MA Degree in 1967. He had 20 hours toward the Educational Administration Degree from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and nine hours toward the same degree from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville. Professionally he belongs to: Missouri State Athletic Administrators Association; Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Administrators Association; Missouri Drivers State Education Association, and the Kirksville Community Teachers Association.

R.W. Bro. Miller is possessed of a number of accreditations and awards: certified as Athletic Administrator by the National Association, named Kirksville Teacher of the Year in 1978, named Outstanding Kirksville Adult in 1988 by Community Betterment, and selected to give the Kirksville High School Commencement Speech in 1981.

He has been active in community affairs as well. A member of First United Methodist Church, he regularly teaches an adult Sunday school class and has served as chairman of the Administrative Board as well as other volunteer responsibilities. He has chaired the Kirksville Baseball-Softball Association, organized Kirksville's Parents Against Drunk Drivers and Students Against Drunk Drivers, originated and organized Kirksville High School's after-prom activities, has served as president over several community organizations and chaired a variety of committees. He has served as Awards Chairman for the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

Masonically, R.W. Bro. Miller has a long list of accomplishments. Most recently he has been known to the Grand Lodge as a member of the Masonic Education Committee (six years) and as Chairman of Grand Lodge Achievement Award program. A member of Adair Lodge No. 366 since 1980, he served as Master in 1990 and has been Lodge Treasurer the past two years. He served as District Deputy Grand Master, Second District, 1992-93 and also 1993-94. He had headed each of York Rite bodies in Kirksville (Caldwell Chapter No.53; Kirksville Council No. 44, and Ely Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar). He has been accorded the KYCH In the York Rite. He is a member of the Scottish Rite, Columbia, likewise a member of Molia Shrine Temple, St. Joseph, and a past Board Member of the local Shrine Club. He is a Past Patron of Kirksville Chapter No.184, Order of Eastern Star. He has served as Associate Guardian of Bethel No.30, Job's Daughters. He is a member & Secretary of the Missouri Lodge of Research. He is a 33rd Degree Inspector General (Honorary) in the Scottish Rite Valley of Columbia.

Brother Miller also belongs to National Sojourners, Kansas City Chapter No. 63; Heart of Missouri York Rite College No. 188; Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest; Order of High Priesthood of Missouri; Red Cross of Constantine; Allied Masonic Degrees; and Grotto of North America.

Prior to his election as Grand Secretary by the brethren at the 1997 Communication of the Grand Lodge, R.W. Bro. Ronald D. Miller had been appointed Acting Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Missouri by Grand Master Donald E. Scott. The appointment came after R.W. Bro. Miller was unanimously chosen after a special committee composed of Grand Lodge officers and other Masonic leaders across the state (in accordance with Grand Lodge By-Laws) had interviewed a sizable number of qualified applicants.