JOEL DAVID RATLIFF, SR.
Email: pgc2018@vatemplars.com
Grand Commander
2018-2019
Sir Knight Joel David Ratliff, Sr., was born in Dallas Texas on November 15. He was the older of two children of Ruth Spillman and Marshall Ratliff. He graduated from Bryan Adams High School in 1969 and after graduation was selected as the first Dallas Police Cadet for the Dallas Police Department. He graduated from the Dallas Police Academy in 1971 and worked for the Dallas Police department as a patrolman.
Sir Knight Ratliff, Sr, enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1973 and served in law enforcement as a Security Policeman retiring after 20 years. His worldwide assignments included Air Force Bases in Florida, England, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, and Washington DC. He attended El Centro College, Texas Christian College and University of Maryland overseas accumulating over 110 credit hours in Criminal Justice and American History. He also worked as a personal security guard for the director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Star Wars Project. The final assignment of his career was on the security team for Air Force One. After his career in the Air Force he worked for the US Postal Service retiring after 13 years.
Sir Knight Ratliff was made a master mason at Oxon Hill Lodge No. 231, Maryland, on October 28th, 1985. His father who was a member of Gibraltar No. 1179, Dallas Texas, raised him to the sublime degree of master mason. He was exalted in Hiram Chapter No. 45, Royal Arch Masons, Front Royal Virginia. He was Knighted August 6th, 2002, in Winchester Commandery No. 12, Winchester, Virginia, He served as Worshipful Master in 2009 receiving the Outstanding Worshipful Master award. He served as District Deputy Grand Master in 2013, where he also received the Outstanding District Deputy Grand Master Award from the Grand Master, Sir Knight Ratliff, served as High Priest of his Chapter a total of five years. He was also the District Deputy Grand High Priest in 2010 and Worshipful Master of Virginia Research Lodge 1777. In 2015 he served as Eminent Commander of Winchester No. 12 and District Deputy Grand Commander of the 4th Chivalric District in 2008.
He is a member of numerous lodges in Virginia, Maryland and Texas. He is a life member of Almas Shrine in Washington, DC., a charter member of Widows Son R.A. Brazen Pillar Chapter and holds numerous awards and recognition from several Masonic bodies, to include, Knight Commander of the Temple, DeMolay Legion of Honor, Daniel Carter Beard Award, Knight York Cross of Honor, Order of the Purple Cross, Samsar Jewel Award (Shrine), Knight Commander Court of Honor (Scottish Rite).
He is married to the former Sandra Jean West. They have a blended family of three daughters and four sans (two Master Masons and two grandsons and three granddaughters.
