MWB NOEL CHARLES DICKS

Noel Charles Dicks was born September 27,1929 in Broadlands, Illinois, the son of Kenneth and Mary Logan Dicks. He attended public schools in Broadlands and Arthur, Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy in May 1952.

In November 1952 he entered the United States Army being trained as a combat engineer. In March 1953, he was transferred to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas as a pharmacist remaining there until he was discharged from active duty in November 1954. At this time, he accepted employment as a Registered Pharmacist in a retail pharmacy in Decatur, Illinois.

On September 22, 1957, Noel was united in marriage with Iris Jeanne Lape of rural St. Peter, Illinois. She is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and was teaching Home Economics in Moweaqua, Illinois at the time. They were residents of Decatur, Illinois until January 1960 when Noel purchased an existing pharmacy in Arthur, Illinois. He was the sole owner of Dicks Pharmacy until he retired in 1995. Iris and Noel have been very active in the Arthur United Methodist Church as well as all school and community organizations and activities of Arthur. They have two sons, Bruce and Mark and are grandparents of Emily, Sam, Michelle, and Jack.

The Masonic life of Brother Dicks began on March 9, 1955, when he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Arthur Lodge No. 825 by a slate of officers composed entirely of Grand Lecturers, including his Father and Uncle Carl. He served Arthur Lodge No. 825 as Worshipful Master in 1959 and 1993. He has also served the Lodge as Secretary and Treasurer.

Brother Dicks was commissioned as a Grand Lecturer in 1984. As his Masonic journey continued he served the fraternity as a Grand Lodge Instructor (M.W.G.M. Inglis), Member of the Board of Grand Examiners (M.W.G.M. Elliott), Secretary of the Board of Managers of the Illinois Masonic Home (M.W.G.M. Ford), Grand Master of the Illini District Grand Lodge (M.W.G.M. James Miller), Assistant Eastern Area Deputy Grand Master (M.W.G.M.) Louden), Member of the Board of Grand Examiners (M.W.G.M. Louden), Secretary of the Board of Grand

Examiners (M.W.G.M. Grisham) and Chairman of the Board of Grand Examiners (M.W.G.M. Burr). In October of 2000 Brother Dicks was elected as Junior Grand Warden and advanced through the Grand Lodge line of officers being elected as Grand Master of Masons of Illinois in October 2005 and re-elected in October 2006. Most Worshipful Brother Dicks completed his term as Grand Master of Masons of Illinois on October 6, 2007. He served on the Grand Lodge Insurance Committee and Foreign Jurisdictions Committee after his term as Grand Master. M.W. Bro. Dicks had also served as Grand Representative to Norway 1990-1995 and Grand Representative to Arizona 2001-2007.

Noel C. Dicks was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Danville, Illinois. He was chairman of the Ancient Craft Degree Team for ten years and served as Commander-in-Chief of Danville Consistory and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Valley of Danville in 2000-2001. He received the Honorary Thirty Third degree in 1991. He is a member of the York Rite Bodies of Decatur Chapter No. 16, Macon Chapter No. 21, and Beaumanoir Commandery No. 9 all of Decatur,

Illinois. He belongs to East Central York Rite College No. 16 and was the recipient of the Honorary Purple Cross in 2005. He is a member of Little Egypt Council No. 400 Allied Masonic Degrees, and the Illinois College of Masonica Societas Rosicruciana. He belongs to Saint Edward Conclave Red Cross of Constantine, of Springfield, Illinois, serving as Puissant Sovereign in 2008.

Brother Dicks held regular membership in ANSAR Shrine Center of Springfield, Illinois and was an honorary member of Mohammed and Ainad Shrine Centers. He was a member of Crystal Chapter No. 39 Order of Eastern Star of Sullivan, Illinois. He was a recipient of the Honorary Demolay Legion of Honor and a Member of Honor of Job’s Daughter Bethel No. 49 of Decatur, Illinois.

He was a member of Illinois Lodge of Research, Iowa Research Lodge No. 2, and Southern California Lodge of Research. Honorary memberships include High Twelve International, The Grand Lodge of Tennessee, Western Star Lodge No. 240, Wilmington Lodge No. 208, Vienna Lodge No. 150, and Greenup Lodge No. 125.