Most Worshipful Brother Hugh Edward Riley

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1970.

On February 3, 1970 Brother Hugh Edward Riley was installed as the ninety-fifth Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Utah. Brother Hugh had just turned forty-seven and in more than fifty years only one Grand Master had served this Grand Jurisdiction at a younger age.

Our Grand Master was born in Ogden, Utah, January 17, 1923.

He attended the public schools in Ogden and was later graduated from the University of Idaho, Southern Branch in Pocatello, Idaho, with a degree in Pharmacy. After two years in the U. S. Navy he followed what was to be his work for the coming years - Pharmacy.

He worked for seventeen years in the Riley Drug Store in Ogden with his father, Hugh E. Riley, Sr. For the past nine years he has been at Hill Air Force Base serving as Chief Pharmacy Officer, the office he holds at the present time.

Brother Riley has served as Junior High Youth Fellowship Counselor for two years at the First Methodist Church in Ogden, which he and his wife, the former Kay Huss attend. They have a son Clifford Hugh and a daughter, Jeffery.

He is a former DeMolay and holds the Chevalier Deg,ree of that Order. He was, with his wife, interested in developing Bethel No. 14, International Order of Job's Daughters, and served as its first Associate Guardian. He is Past Patron of Queen Esther Chapter No. 14, Order of Eastern Star.

Our Grand Master received the three degrees of Masonry in George Washington Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M. in Ogden during April and May of 1946. In 1960 he served as Worshipful Master of his Lodge. He received the 32 in Scottish Rite Masonry on May 1, 1965 and at the present time holds the office of Prior in Utah Consistory, one step from the top.

In 1962 he was appointed Junior Grand Deacon and served continuously in the offices of Grand Lodge progressing to the high office of Most Worshipful Grand Master this year.

He served as a member of the Ogden Fraternal Home Association for several years during the planning and building the new Masonic Temple in Ogden. He is Secretary of his Lodge and has been for several years and is a member of EI Kalah Temple of the Shrine.

The Grand Lodge of Utah is fortunate in having a Grand Master so well versed in the many facets of Masonry as our Hugh Edward Riley.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1970.

PGM, Hugh Edward Riley died on May 4, 1988 in Ogden, Utah. Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1989, page 85.