W. Don Baugher was born on October 20, 1938 in Senath, Missouri. He graduated from Senath High School and moved to Michigan in 1956. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he went to work for the Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor. He attended Lake Michigan College, and majored in Business Administration while working for Whirlpool. He continued to work for them for over thirty-nine years until he retired. He married Georgia “Jo” Bishop on September 23, 1961. They were blessed with two daughters.
He was raised a Master Mason on March 25, 1963 in Lake Shore Lodge No. 298. He transferred to Coloma Lodge No. 162 where he served as Worshipful Master in 1978. He holds honorary memberships in Dearborn Lodge No. 172, Three Oaks Lodge No. 239, Lake City Lodge No. 408, St. Joseph Lodge No. 437 and Britannia No. 601, a Lodge he constituted when he was Grand Master. He served the Board of General Purposes for District No. 10, and served as Board President in 1984-1985. He is a member of the York Rite and holds memberships with the Calvin Britain Chapter No. 72, R.A.M.; Nile Council No. 19, R. & S.M.; Malta Commandery No. 44 and York Rite College No. 10. He is a member and Past Puissant Sovereign of St. Vincent Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine. He joined the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Grand Rapids in 1972 and was elected Class President. He has worked on the 4th, 8th, 23rd and 32nd degrees. He has held several offices in the Consistory and currently serves as First Lieutenant Commander of DeWitt Clinton Consistory. He crossed the hot sands of Saladin Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., and served as Membership Chairman for District 1. He is a Past President of the Berrien County Shrine Club. He is a member of the Coloma Chapter No. 307, Order of the Eastern Star. He serves on the advisory Board of the Fidelity Rainbow Assembly No. 45 and is a State Official for the Michigan Grand Assembly and a member of the Grand Cross of Color. He is very involved with the National Masonic Foundation for Children. He has served on the NMFC Board of Directors since 1991, served at its President for four years and currently serves as Executive Director.
He was installed as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Michigan Masons at the close of the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons on May 26, 1993. There were 77,000 Masons in 431 lodges in Michigan during his term of office.
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