WILLIAM THOMAS HARGROVE
Email: pgc2012@vatemplars.com
Grand Commander
2012-2013
William Thomas Hargrove was born September 26, 1948, at Saint Louis, Missouri. He was educated in the Cahokia, Illinois public school system and was graduated from Cahokia High School in 1966 with a college preparatory academic diploma. Sir Knight Hargrove subsequently attended Bradley University at Peoria, Illinois, from which he was graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1970. During his 40+ year engineering career, he attended several additional universities including the University of Maryland, Christopher Newport University, Thomas Nelson Community College, College of William and Mary, and Kennedy-Western University earning four additional degrees. Sir Knight Hargrove was graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Management and an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration in 1978 from Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Virginia. He was graduated with a Master of Science in Safety Engineering in 1998 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Safety Engineering in 2001 from Kennedy-Western University, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
He is the youngest son of Audrey N. and William D. Hargrove (deceased 1993). Sir Knight Hargrove has one older brother Edward Lee Hargrove (deceased 2001).
Following graduation from Bradley University, SK Hargrove moved to Newport News, Virginia to work at Newport News Shipbuilding in the design and construction of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines. After having worked at the shipyard for only a short period of time, SK Hargrove was called to serve in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict. Sir Knight Hargrove served as an Atomic Demolition Munitions Technician on the front lines of the Cold War in Kitzingen, Germany. Following Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army, he returned to shipbuilding at Newport News and was married to the former Dianne Bowers of Newport News. They have no children. They are members of Parkview Baptist Church. They moved from Newport News to the Eastern Shore in 1989, where they currently reside.
During his 40+ years of professional engineering practice, Dr. Hargrove has held many positions of authority, responsibility, and leadership. His past employments include, design and construction of fast attack nuclear submarines at Newport News Shipbuilding, design and analysis of high pressure piping systems on Navy surface ships at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, design of new maintenance and overhaul strategies for Navy amphibious ships at the Naval Sea Systems Command, design and analysis of high pressure piping systems on Navy ships at M. Rosenblatt & Son Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, design of high pressure custom pressure vessels at Furmanite America, Inc., and design, manufacture and installation of custom centralized lubrication systems at Vogel Lubrication. In January 2010, Dr. Hargrove retired after a 22-year career at QinetiQ North America Corporation as a Project/Site Manager and Safety Engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia. In that position, he was responsible for the safe design, installation, operation, and operator training for all ground-based pressure vessels and systems; and all cranes, hoists and other lifting devices at that installation. Dr. Hargrove served as a volunteer on three national safety code committees writing safety standards for NASA and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Sir Knight Hargrove began his Masonic career in 1965 in the A.D. Manners Chapter Order of DeMolay. Upon turning 21, he petitioned Emeth Lodge #1030, Cahokia, Illinois and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on June 9, 1970. SK Hargrove affiliated with Virginia Lodge #177 at Claremont, Virginia in 1982 and served as Master of that lodge in 1984 and 1985. He is a member of Kecoughtan Royal Arch Chapter #42 at Hampton, Virginia and served as High Priest in 1986 and 1987. He is a member of Malta Commandery #24 at Chincoteague, Virginia and served as Commander in 1995 and 2003. He has been a member of Malta Commandery #24 for 22 years. For 16 of those years, he has served as a Dias Officer. He is also a member of Chesapeake Commandery #28 at Cape Charles, Virginia. He served as District Deputy Grand Commander of the 9th District in 1996, Assistant District Instructor of Work for the 9l District in 2003 and is the current District Instructor of Work for that district. It was during his year as District Deputy that Island Commandery #34 was formed. He is a member of Rose of Sharon Priory #2, KYCH, Virginia Research Chapter #1753, RAM, Valley of Portsmouth Scottish Rite, Khedive Shrine, Edward S. White Council Number 36 Allied Masonic Degrees, Garden of Gethsemane Temple Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, Virginia Chapter of the Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor, Gund Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Grand Council of Anointed High Priests in Virginia, Virginia College Masonic Societas Rosicrucian’s in Civitatibus Foederatis, King Darius Council #17 Knight Masons, Hampton Roads York Rite College #95, and St, Thomas of* Acon Old Dominion Chapel #87.
Sir Knight Hargrove is an amateur woodworker. He builds furniture, sword cases to raise funds for the Knights Templar charities, various pieces of paraphernalia for Masonic organizations, radio-controlled model boats, and is currently working on his third real boat, a 12 ½ ft long, 6 ft beam Cape Cod Catboat. He has previously built an 8 ft sailing/rowing pram and a 14 ½ ft decked canoe which he modified to include a pedal drive. In the warm weather, Sir Knight Hargrove is an avid cyclist, riding on average 50 to 80 miles per week, on his three different recumbent bicycles. He loves to sail and spend time exploring the many bodies of water on the Eastern Shore in his canoe. Sir Knight Hargrove loves to be outdoors, he likes to hike, is an avid shooter and a Certified Diver.
