JOSEPH PATRICK WESTALL, JR.
Email:pgc2016@vatemplars.com
Grand Commander
2016-2017

I was born on June 4*, 1937 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. We lived on a small farm. During the war years my mother worked the night shift in a cigarette factory and my father worked at a country store.

I was educated in the Dinwiddie County School System. After graduating from school I went into the United States Army. I was with the 101st Airborne Infantry Division stationed at Fort Campbell, KY.

After I was discharged I worked for Sears Roebuck & Co. for 10 years. Then went with Lawson Products Inc. for 35 years. I worked my way up to Senior District Sales Manager until my retirement.

I married Alexa V. Hawkins in 1979. We raised 3 children. Joseph P. Westfall, III, June Terri Westfall and John Randolph Westfall.

Joseph P. Westfall III is married to Stephanie and they have 3 children Joseph P. Westfall IV, Tucker Lee Westfall and Patricia Rene Westfall

June Terri Westfall is married to Dr. William D. Jennings and they have two children, John Westfall Kimbriel and David Ryan Kimbriel.

John Randolph is married to Valerie and they have a daughter, Valerie Lynn.

I would like to add that I am very appreciative to my devoted wife of 35 years for all of the support, help and guidance she gave me while going through the chairs of the Grand Commandery.

MASONIC HISTORY

Received Master Masons degree in Powhatan Starke Lodge No 124 on February 28, 1967.

Served as Worshipful Master on 6 occasions, Powhatan Starke Lodge No. 124 in 1971, 1985, 1996, 1997 and 2005. During the 100th and 125 anniversary of the Lodge. And for Petersburg Lodge No. 15 in 2008.

Has received certificates of merit signed by Mt. Wor. William C. Vaughan, Charles C. Wallace, Albert H. Tignor Jr., and John R. Quinley

Has received certificates of appreciation from Mt. Wor. L. Douglas Delano and Matthew L. Lacy II.

Honorary member of Powhatan Starke Lodge No 124, Blandford Lodge No 3, Dinwiddie Lodge No 136, Petersburg Lodge No 15 and Prince George Lodge No. 115.

Member of Edwards Lodge No 308 and Masons Hall Lodge No 1785.

Member of Virginia Research Lodge No 1777, 2014

Served as District Deputy Grand Master for the 29th Masonic District in 1976.

Trustee of Powhatan Starke Lodge No 124, Petersburg Lodge No 15, and Appomattox Commandery No 6.

Elected to membership In Petersburg Union Royal Arch Chapter No 7 in 1974. Served as High Priest in 2001 and 2007 And District Deputy Grand High Priest in 2002-3. LMIP.

Member of Virginia Research Royal Arch Chapter No 1753.

Received Thrice Illustrious Degree 2001.

Received Super Excellent Masters Degree 2000.

Received Anointed High Priest Degree 2000.

Received Certificate Of Appreciation from Grand Royal Arch Chapter in 2003.

Appointed as Grand Representative to Manatoba, British Columbia 2003 from The Grand Chapter.

Elected to membership in Appomattox Commandery No 6 in 1974, served as Eminent Commander 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 served as District Deputy Grand Commander 2003-4.LMIP

Member of Grand Masters Club, Knights Templar Eye Foundation 1998 through 2015.

Received Grand Masters Award From The Grand Encampment 2000 with Silver Star and Four Oak Leaf Clusters.

Received the Grice Merit Award from the Grand Commander Of Virginia 2000.

Appointed as Assistant District Instructor 2004 of the Grand Commandery of Virginia for District No 1. Appointed as District Instructor in 2015.

Created a Crusading Knight Of Siloam 1999.

Commissioned a Knight Preceptor 2001. Served as Preceptor 2012-2013

Received Knight Templar Cross of Honor from the Grand Encampment in 2004 (equal to Scottish Rite 33 Degree). Only Grand Line Officer to ever receive this award at that time.

Received Knight Commander of the Temple from the Grand Encampment in 2005.

Received membership cordon green and white for signing 42 petitions from Grand Commandery of Virginia.

Elected to membership in Penn-Neck Commandery No 33, March, 2013.

Knighted in St. Thomas of Acon, Trinity Chapel No. 12, Feb 12, 2009. Served as Worthy Master 2013-2014.

Elected to membership in Acca Temple Aaonms 1973.

President of Klownz unit in 1992. Klown of the year 1988.

Member of grand and glorious order of hillbilly’s clan no 17.

Elected to honorary membership in National Sojourners, Fort Lee/Richmond chapter no. 72 in 1981, served as president 2001-2, 2014-2015.

Elected to membership in James Monroe camp no 72, Hero’s of 76, 1981, served as commander 1984, 20142015.

Charter member of Carl frank wood council no 200, allied masonic degrees. Served as sovereign master 2002, received the Red Branch of Eri award elected to honorary membership 2008.

Membership in the Philalethies society.

Membership in the Scottish rite bodies, orient of Virginia, valley of Richmond since 1973.

Member of the Scottish rite research society.

Elected to king Darius council no 17, knight masons of the USA, 1999. Served as excellent chief in 2006-07. LMIP

Elected to membership in commonwealth York rite college no 50, York rite Sovereign college of North America 1999, served as Governor 2004-5.Imip

Elected to membership in the Virginia College SRICF 2000. Elevated to the 8th degree in 2014.advanced to Celebrant 2015.

Received the degree of Royal Order of Scotland 1999.

Received KYCH, Knight York Court of Honor 2001.

Became a member of Holy Royal Arch Knight Temple Priest 2002. Very eminent preceptor 2009-2010. Became registrar in 2012.

Received the order of purple cross 2003.

Became a member of Saint. Cornelius the Centurion Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine 2003-2007.

Affiliated with Saint Polycarp Conclave Red Cross of Constantine in 2007.

Appointed as Grand Representative to the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of New Jersey in 1988.

Became a member of Trinity Chapel no. 12, ye commemorative order of St. Thomas of Acon, 2009. Served as worthy master 2013-2014

Knighted and became a member of knights of St. Andrew, Nov. 2009.

Became a member of Hartley Carmichael council no. 3, allied masonic degrees, Dec 2009. Sovereign master 2014.

Became a member of Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Battlefield Forest no 170, April14, 2010, elected grand tall cedar 2012.

Elected as the grand sword bearer of the Grand Commandery knights templar of va. May 8th, 2010, grand junior warden 2011, grand senior warden 2012. Grand captain general 2013.grand generalissimo 2014. Very eminent deputy grand commander 2015. Elected as grand commander 2016.

Ennobled a Knight Commander of the Red branch of Eri by the Supreme Grand Faslairt Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri May 24, 2010

Honorary membership in the Order of DeMolay, 10-2-2010

Created a Hodar by the daughters of the American Revolution Colonel John Banister Chapter, Petersburg.

Created as an associate member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Petersburg Chapter no. 155 in 2013.

Received leadership award from Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the USA. 2013

I instituted lodge scholarship program in Petersburg lodge no 15, serving as chairman.

Instituted lodge scholarship program in Dinwiddie lodge no 136, serving as chairman

My year as Grand Commander was dedicated to my wife, Alexa.