LAWRENCE BARTON SMITH
Email: pgc2013@vatemplars.com
Grand Commander
2013-2014
Lawrence Barton “Lary” Smith was born Friday, 13 May 1955 at Mountain Home, Arkansas as the only child of John Quinby and Elizabeth Lee Sowell Smith (both deceased). He graduated Mountain Home High School in 1973 and the University of Arkansas (U of A) (Fayetteville) in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology. He further received a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University in 1992 and has multiple credits towards a Master of Science in Education from Strayer University.
Following graduation from the U of A, Larry was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army (Ordnance Corps) and served in West Germany. SK Smith was released from Active Duty in 1981 and joined the Arkansas Army National Guard. Following advanced officer training, he joined the Active Guard and Reserve Program at the National Guard Bureau in Washington, DC. SK Smith served in several staff positions within the Bureau before being transferred to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama as the Deputy Assistant Commandant of the Ordnance Missile Munitions Center and School. His final assignment was Executive Officer and Senior National Guard Officer for the Combined Arms Support Command’s Training Directorate at Fort Lee, Virginia retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2000.
Following his retirement, SK Smith resumed service as a Department of the Army Civilian with the Training Directorate (now CASCOM’s G-3) and currently is the Chief of the Multifunctional Unit Training Branch, Collective Training Development Division.
Larry and Lynne Marie Batten were married 1 December 1990 in Arlington, Virginia and have one son, William.
SK Smith began his Masonic career in 1989 in Herndon Lodge No. 264, Herndon, Virginia. He affiliated with Blandford Lodge No. 3 in Petersburg, Virginia in 1994 (Master in 1999) and Meridian Lodge No. 284 in Richmond in 1995 (Master in 1998). He was Exalted in Loudoun Royal Arch Chapter No. 55 in 1991 and affiliated with Petersburg Union Royal Arch Chapter No. 7 in 1996 (High Priest 1999-00) and served as District Deputy Grand High Priest in 2003-04. SK Smith was Knighted in 1995 and is a member of Appomattox Commandery No. 6, having served as Acting Commander 1997-98, Commander 1998-99 and District Deputy Grand Commander in 1999-00.
Memberships include: Rose of Sharon Priory No. 2, KYCH; ACCA Shrine, AAOMS; Carl Frank Wood Council No. 200 AMD (State AMD Superintendant for Virginia): Garden of Gethsemane Temple HRAKTP; Virginia Chapter Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor; Virginia College Societas Rosicruciana In Civitatibus Foederatis; King Darius Council No.17 Knight Masons; Commonwealth York Rite College No. 50 (holder of the Order of the Purple Cross); Saint Cornelius the Centurion Council Red Cross of Constantine; Royal Order of Scotland; and Old Dominion Chapel No. 87, St. Thomas of Acon. He is a member of Order of the Eastern Star; Order of the Amaranth (Royal Patron-2000); and Past President of Fort Lee-Richmond Chapter No. 72 and Past Commander of James Monroe Camp, Heroes of ’76, National Sojourners, Inc.
Non-Masonic affiliations include: National Rifle Association (Life Member); U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Association (holder of the Order of Samuel Sharpe); Honorary Disposaleer, U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal School; and the National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association.
SK Smith is a collector of military weapons and militaria. He is an avid shooter and was a member of the 1984 and 1985 All Army Combat Rifle Team. He is an NRA Certified Range Safety Officer and a regular volunteer Range Safety Officer at the Fort Lee Private Owned Weapons Range.
