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U T A H HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
1916, being made a Master Mason in Argenta Lodge No. 3, Salt Lake City. From this lodge demitted, he and his father were instrumental in organizing Progress Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., which he served as treasurer during the three-year term, 1920-22. A Royal Arch Mason, he was exalted in Salt Lake Chapter No. 5 on April 18, 1917, and served that Chapter as High Priest during 1922. H e affiliated with Utah Chapter No. 1 when the two Chapters were consolidated in 1932, being a life member at the time of his death. Rod was also a Knight Templar, having been knighted in Utah Commandery No. 1 on M a y 23, 1918. H e became a member of El Kalah Temple, A. A. O. N . M . S., on November 5, 1919, and was an active member of the Shrine Patrol for 25 years. In contrast to his father. Rod was a Republican in political affiliation. During both world wars he was active in all phases of civilian work, serving as a district air-raid warden and a Red Cross and bond drive worker. On January 30, 1917, he married Sara Beck Merrill in Salt Lake City. Born July 15, 1898, she was herself a descendant of two prominent pioneer families. Two children were born to them, James Roderic (January 20, 1918-June 12, 1933) and William Lester (November 18, 1921—). Rod became interested in golf the year after his second son was born, and the boy grew up virtually with a golf club in his hand. T o his father's unbounded delight. "Billy" began winning state championships at the age of 16, and today he is familiar to Utah sports fans as one of the state's outstanding amateur golfers. During W o r l d W a r II Bill was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. A graduate of the University of Utah, he married Jane Elizabeth Bracken on December 24, 1943, and they have two children, William Robert and Susan Leslie. His grandson was one of the great pleasures of Rod's last years, and it was instructive to hear him remark upon the grave consideration a child receives today as compared with the arbitrary discipline under which he himself grew up. The furiously active life he lived caught up with Rod in 1944, when high blood pressure precipitated a heart attack. T h e valves to his heart were damaged beyond repair, and the last five years of his life were a constant rear-guard action fought against the ravages of high blood pressure. He had serious sieges in the hos-
