JOHN JEFFREY MCCLELLAND
Email: pgc2020@vatemplars.com
Grand Commander
2019-2020
S.K. John Jeffrey McClelland was born on the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi, Texas September 25, 1944, to Major (USMC) John Finley and Jean Elizabeth McClelland. He is the eldest child and has three sisters. His father and grandfather were Masons. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Lynchburg, VA. After which he attended Loyola University of the South in New Orleans, LA, where he majored in Political Science and played intercollegiate basketball.
S.K. Jeff married the former Margaret Pamela (Pam) Brook, daughter of Admiral (Ret.) Charles B. and Margaret “Mimi” Brook, of Mclean, VA. They have five children and twelve grandchildren. They retired in 2007 to Jamaica, VA, where they had owned a cottage for thirty-seven years and built their retirement home. They are members of Christ Church Episcopal Parish, Saluda, VA where Pam served as Senior Warden for two years and S. K. Jeff is a Past President of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
S.K. Jeff was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965, attended OCS, received a commission as a 2LT and rose to the rank of Captain. He spent two tours of duty in Vietnam receiving two Bronze Stars for Valor, two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Civic Action Honor Medal, and the Purple Heart. Wounds that he received eventually led to the end of his military career.
After leaving his country’s service, he entered the hospitality industry where he worked for the next thirty-five years. He became an executive Chef and advanced to Regional Vice President of a Hotel Company before retiring in 2007. One of Jeff’s assignments during his career was to open the first American managed hotel in Moscow, Russia, USSR where he and Pam lived for two years. Following his retirement, he was called out of retirement for temporary assignments as a Hotel General Manager thirteen times over the next five years.
His wife, Pam, retired after a career spanning thirty years as an elementary school principal.
Masonic Journey
International Order of DeMolay – a Senior DeMolay with sixty-two years of membership
Dade Lodge No.14, Key West, FL
Scottish Rite Orient of Florida, Valley of Key West Scottish Rite Orient of Virginia, Valley of Richmond Cherrydale Lodge No. 42, Arlington, VA
Urbanna Lodge No.83, Urbanna, VA
Royal Arch Chapter No. 35, Arlington, VA Royal Arch Chapter No. 59, Urbanna, VA
Penn-Neck Commandery No.33
Virginia Beach Commandery No. 36 Honorary
Kena Shrine, Manassas, VA
Tidewater Shrine Club, Gloucester, VA
The Inquisitors of Solomon Council No. 364 AMD
St. Thomas Chapter, Red Cross of Constantine Virginia College, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis King Darius Council No. 17, Knight Masons
Garden of Gethsemane Tabernacle No. 2, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests Commonwealth York Rite College No.50
Ye Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon
Ft. Lee – Richmond Chapter No. 72 National Sojourners
James Monroe Chapter, Heroes of ’76
Awards
Knight Commander of the Temple
DeMolay Legion of Honor
Knight Commander of the Red Branch of Erie Award
Accomplishments
Knights Templar Leadership Correspondence Course, Founded the Knight Templar Central Area Ritual School Served as Chairman of the Baldwin- Brown Foundation 2012-19
Editor of the Knight Templar Magazine Virginia Supplement 2015-2019
His other interests include being a Master Oyster Gardner, hunter, fisherman, crabber, licensed glider pilot, and a SCUBA Diver with certification as a Dive Master. He also is a student of history along with being a published artist, poet, and author.
