Ill. Earl Walker, 33°, GC, Receives Hall of Fame Honor

Ill. Earl Walker, 33°, GC, Receives Hall of Fame Honor from Missouri DeMolay at the recent Annual Missouri DeMolay State Conclave in Jefferson City, the DeMolay of Missouri honored "Dad" Earl E. Walker with one of their highest honors: induction into the Missouri DeMolay Hall of Fame.

State Master Councilor, Ryan Cockerham, and his father, Grand Master of DeMolay International, Robert Cockerham, 33°, SGIG in Missouri, presided over the festivities in Jefferson City with over 500 DeMolays and guests from across the state.

Ill. Earl E. Walker, 33°, Grand Cross, has a long-standing commitment to serve youth and Masonic bodies. Bro. Walker is founder and Chairman of the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders, which serves over 1,000 children with communication disorders annually in the greater St. Louis area, as well as many local and national children´s service initiatives.

Dad Walker is also a strong supporter of DeMolay in Missouri-through scholarships, with the Missouri DeMolay fundraising efforts for the children of Missouri RiteCare®, and as a major contributor to the annual Missouri DeMolay Leadership Training Conference. Bro. Earl truly embodies the seven cardinal virtues of DeMolay and strongly supports the DeMolay goals for Teamwork, Leadership, and the future of Freemasonry.

Ill. Cockerham noted that, "The Order of DeMolay and the Scottish Rite are blessed to have you, Dad Walker, as a genuine leader and hero to champion these worthwhile and needed causes for children."

In recognition of Dad Walker´s ongoing commitment, the youth of Missouri DeMolay presented him with "heartfelt letters from Leadership Camp" chronicling their impressions and journey to leadership, character, service, and learning. The young men also presented him the official "Teamwork Football" from their camp adventures. Bro. Walker holds these priceless items in high esteem as they exemplify our future leaders´ growth and progress.

As Brother Earl put it, "An investment in our children is an investment in the future." His actions speak louder than words and set the groundwork for the future leaders emerging from Missouri DeMolay.

Submitted by Sherry Mistretta, Executive Director
The Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders of St. Louis, Inc.

(Reprinted from the September/October 2009 issue of the Scottish Rite Journal)