On this page you will find links and information associated with the Scottsih Rite Bodies of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Valley Of Knoxville

A Brief History

Letters Temporary were issued to the Valley of Knoxville on August 10, 1945 by Charles Nelson, 33° S.G.I.G. in Tennessee. Charters already existed in Memphis for West Tennessee, and in Nashville, for Middle Tennessee. Knoxville was to serve the Eastern part of the State, consisting of thirty counties at that time. In 1969, the Valley was divided to help form the Valley of Chattanooga.

Ill. John H. Cowles, 33° Sovereign Grand Commander performed the inaugural ceremonies in early December of that year by personally delivering and reading the Charters, Constituting the Bodies, and installing the officers. The following officers were installed:

John C. Crawford, Jr., 32° KCCH, Venerable Master; Sylvan D. Shamblin, 32° KCCH, Wise Master; Lennis I. Reed, 32°, Commander; Oscar C. Schwargenberg, 32° KCCH, Master of Kadosh; Albert C. Kelley, 33° was installed as Secretary and Jerry T. Henderson, 32° was installed as Treasurer.

The first Reunion was conducted December 15 and 16, 1945, with a class of 286 completing the 32°. Membership at the close of this first year was 874 including those affiliating from other Valleys. Membership at the close of 1996 was 8,923, the third largest in the Southern Jurisdiction, after Dallas and Houston in Texas. The Valley of Knoxville still has the third highest membership in the Southern Jurisdiction.

Having experienced excellent enthusiasm and membership growth for eight years, a building site was purchased in 1953 adjacent to the University of Tennessee campus. Construction on the Temple began in January 1955 and the structure was sufficiently completed in October 1955. In that month we held our first in the new temple and just under 500 candidates were in the Dedication Class. We completed the year with 4,463 members.

For the purpose of administering community services, and activities for our membership, our Valley is divided into six districts with a chairman for each district. Each district is divided by county with an organized club in each county. Our operating area consists of 24 counties from Monroe county northward to Sullivan and Johnson counties.

Congratulations to the follwing Members who received Scottish Rite Honors at the 2011 Biennial Session held at the House of the Temple in Washington, D. C.

Knights Commander of the Court of Honour Elects, 2011

KCCH NOMINEES

Knoxville - Michael R. Byrd

Knoxville - John Ray Cantrell

Knoxville - David Ray Cooley

Knoxville - Loren Allen Fields

Knoxville - Clyde E. Green

Knoxville - Todd Harrison

Knoxville - Ralph Edward Keffer

Knoxville - John Wilson Kirk

Knoxville - David Ronald Latham

Knoxville - Morgan P. Lorio

Knoxville - David C. Martin, Jr.

Knoxville - Ralph C. McElroy

Knoxville - John D. Pugh, Jr.

Knoxville - Rick D. Runion

Knoxville - Houston D. Teague

Knoxville - Charlers M. B. Thames

Knoxville - Kenneth Earl Wilson

Inspectors General Honorary Elects, 2011

33° NOMINEES

Knoxville - Carl E. Brannan                                                                       

Knoxville - Clifton P. Campbell

Knoxville - Bill Craddock

Knoxville - Luther J. Gafford

Knoxville - Travis P. Harris

Knoxville - Billy R. Miller

Knoxville - Richard R. Stokely

The Knoxville Pipes and Drums

Knoxville, Tennessee