Beyond the Fez: HPIP Ronnie Cole

Haggai Temple No. 182, Desert Imperial Organizer

The Desert of Florida holds the unique distinction of being the first in the Domain to sail uncharted waters. Consistently, members of the Desert provide service that exceeds their titles and positions. HPIP Ronnie Cole is an example of such a member. He is one of many Nobles and Daughters who continually work for the greater good of the Order and its local communities.

In 2011, Cole was elected as the Desert of Florida Imperial Organizer. He supports the Imperial Deputy of the Desert with Temple and Court issues. He has served on the Desert Lecturer & Facilitator team since 2013, developing presentations for the Annual Desert Leadership Forum. For the past three years, Cole has served as Imperial Deputy of the Student Aid Department. He reviews over 40 scholarship applications annually from students all over the Domain, to ensure timely submissions of $1000.00 awards to selected high school seniors from each Desert. In 2009 and 2015, Cole was selected as the Desert of Florida’s Shriner of the Year. In 2012, he was selected as Mentor of the Year by the Imperial Council for developing the first Shriners As Mentors program in the Domain.

Cole has a strong belief in family values, giving to those less fortunate, and a sense of community service as a Navy Veteran of 20 years. Pensacola has been home since 1991 to Cole and his wife of 35 years, Maria. In 2007, He graduated from Troy State University with a BS in Criminal Justice. Cole currently works for the Department of Defense (DOD) as a Civilian Instructor at the Information Warfare Training Center, teaching Cryptologic Maintenance to active-duty service members. He chaired the Command Multi-Cultural Diversity Festival which provided education and training to the more than 1,500 joint services active duty military. Cole has also received numerous awards for service to the least fortunate of the Pensacola community. In 2016, his volunteerism was featured on BLAB TV’s Veterans Still Serving Program. He is also a member of the Chariots of Pensacola Motorcycle Club and serves as the club’s Public Relations Officer. Cole also served for two years as a community Shrine representative on the Visit Pensacola Tourism Board.

While proudly serving as a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Cole is an avid supporter of Pensacola’s social and civic activities. He initiated the,

“What’s Happening In Pensacola” monthly events calendar and has shared local activities by email to hundreds of followers for the past ten The Desert of Florida’s Oasis Magazine

years. For over seven years, Cole and his wife have spent Sunday evenings sponsoring the popular Pensacola social event, “Soulful Sundays,” a gathering which allows various civic organizations to dance, network, mix and mingle while enjoying quality entertainment. Cole uses this party with a purpose as a charitable fundraising endeavor and partners with other community service organizations to raise hundreds of dollars annually for Diabetes, Breast Cancer, and Alzheimer’s charities. He was recognized by the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department for providing over $4,000 in funds for improvements to the seniors’ recreation facility at no cost to the city. Cole was one of eight residents of the Pensacola community honored as a local hero who carries the torch of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy by making a difference in the lives of others. He and his wife Maria’s family includes three children, seven grandchildren, and one great- grandchild. Cole credits his entire outlook on life to the examples set by his parents and the kind and loving ways of his wife.