Past Executive Officers
The Executive Officer is a senior, adult leader who serves as the primary authority figure for DeMolay in Virginia. His responsibilities include implementing programs for member development, assisting chapters with their needs by working with advisors, representing the jurisdiction at events, and providing strategic leadership and financial oversight to the organization within the state. The Executive Officer works with a team of adult volunteers and staff to achieve the goals of Virginia DeMolay and DeMolay International.
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George Harding Lewis, December 1922 – February 1925
Dad Lewis was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania, on May 3, 1874. He graduated from Cornell University in 1897 with a degree in electrical engineering, and served as president of Standard Manufacturing Co. He joined Owens Lodge #164 in Norfolk, helped found Khedive Shrine Temple and served as its Potentate in 1909, 1910, and 1922. He received the KCCH on October 20, 1921 and was coroneted a 33º Scottish Rite Mason on October 21, 1927. After two years of service as the EO of Virginia DeMolay, he resigned his office in order to start the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Norfolk Community Fund. He passed away on March 14, 1942.
Herbert Logan McConnell, February 1925 – September 1944
Dad McConnell was born on August 21, 1883, in the City of York in Pennsylvania. He was made a Master Mason in Eureka Lodge No. 23 in Wilmington, Delaware, and subsequently affiliated with Joppa Lodge No. 40 in Richmond, Virginia, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1918. He was a Past Commander of St. Andrew Commandery No. 13 and joined the Scottish Rite on May 21, 1914, was invested with the Knight Commander Court of Honor on October 20, 1921, and was coroneted a 33° Scottish Rite Mason on October 23, 1925. He retired as Secretary of Atlantic Life insurance Company in 1937 due to declining health, died unexpectedly on September 21, 1944.
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Alfred Douglas Smith, Jr., February 1945 – August 1966
Dad Smith was born on July 14, 1905, in Richmond, Virginia. In later years, he would simply become known as “Dad Doug”, would relish his status as being one of the first DeMolays in Virginia. Dad Doug was raised a Master Mason in Lewis Ginter Lodge #317 on November 29, 1926. He served as Worshipful Master in 1933, as District Deputy Grand Master of the 15th Masonic District in 1937, and a 33° Scottish Rite Mason in 1949. Dad Doug became Grand Master of Masons of Virginia in February 1949, the first Virginia DeMolay to do so. He is the only Virginia Mason to serve as Executive Officer and Grand Master of Masons at the same time.
Odie Robert Howell, Jr., August 1966 – April 1977
Dad Howell was born on May 15, 1922, in Washington, D.C. He was Senior DeMolay of George Washington Chapter and received the Legion of Honor in 1959 while serving as Chairman of the William Mason Saunders Chapter Advisory Council. He and his wife Margaret were also the proud parents of two outstanding DeMolays (Robert L. and Thomas G.). He served as Master of Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22 in 1959 and was later coroneted a 33° Scottish Rite Mason. In the 1970s, he was a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Youth, served as Grand Senior Steward, and was selected as District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 1A in 1986.
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Julian Elwood Baum, Jr., April 1977 - April 1987
Dad Baum was born on August 26, 1921, was a Senior DeMolay of Norfolk Chapter, and received the Legion of Honor in May 1961. He joined the John T. Smith Chapter Advisory Council in 1959, where two of his sons had become Chevaliers, and was appointed Central Region Deputy on December 7, 1974. He served as Worshipful Master of Lee Lodge #209 in 1962, as District Deputy Grand Master of the 19th Masonic District in 1974, as Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Youth, and was a Knight Cross Commander of Honor in the Scottish Rite. He was an officer in the Army Air Corps in World War II.
Richard Allen Duvall, April 1987 – September 1987
Dad Duvall was a Past Master Councilor of a Rock Ridge Chapter in California Chapter. He served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot during World War II and retired as Navy Commander. Dad Duvall was a Past Master of Thompson Lodge #145 and a decorated Royal Arch Mason. He was selected as Virginia DeMolay's Advisor of the Year in 1980. Dad Duvall died unexpectedly on September 23, 1987, after only five months in office. The Virginia DeMolay Brotherhood Award was created in 1988 to recognize the member who most closely represented Dad Duvall’s cherished virtue of brotherly love.
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Howard Kenneth Smith, Jr., November 1987 - July 2002
Dad Smith was a Senior DeMolay from Leon P. Moffett Chapter in Big Spring, Texas. He served as the West Texas Area Master Councilor in 1954 and received the Legion of Honor in 1969. In 1980, shortly before his son turned 13, he became an Advisor for John Blair Chapter and quickly became Chapter Advisor. In 1983, he was named Advisor of the Year and became the Northern Region Deputy in 1986. Dad Smith was coroneted a 33° Scottish Rite Mason in 1997. He and his wife, Sallie, opened their home for many years to visiting state officers and chapters to stay after attending events. He passed away after a brief illness on October 13, 2019.
Michael E. Williams, July 2002 – 2013
Dad Williams joined Lynchburg Chapter in 1967. After leaving Lynchburg, he moved to Richmond, and later became Master of Lewis Ginter Lodge #317. Dad Williams soon became a valued advisor of Westhampton Chapter, winning Advisor of the Year in 1977. Later, he joined the Executive Officer’s Staff under Howard K. Smith, and became a 33º Scottish Rite Mason in 1999. After Dad Smith retired, Dad Williams became the seventh Virginia Executive Officer and served in that role from 2002 to 2013. Dad Williams passed away on February 1, 2024.
