Most Worshipful Brother James D. Wadley

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1992

Born December 7, 1952 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Ralph and Barbara Wadley. Educated in public schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Broomfield, Colorado, Ogden, Utah and graduated from Olympus High School, Salt Lake City, in 1970. Graduated from Utah Technical College in 1976 with a certificate in Drafting and Design Technology. He started working for Mt. Bell/US West/Qwest Communications in 1974, retiring in December, 2004 with 30+ years of service. He started working for the Canyons School District, Salt Lake City, as a Special-Ed bus driver in 2005.

Married Laurel Hurt Romkee August 6, 1977 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They have two children, a daughter, Janine, and a son, Shawn. They also have a granddaughter, Olivia LeeAnn Durm, who was born in 2008.

He is a member of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32 F. & A. M. of Utah in Midvale. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice on October 9,1978, Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on October 30,1978, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on March 26, 1979. He served Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32 as its Worshipful Master in 1985 and 1999.

Brother Wadley joined Ontario Chapter No.3, Royal Arch Masons, Daly Council No.5, Cryptic Masons, and Malta Commandery No.3, Knights Templar, Midvale/Park City York Rite in March of 1985. He has served in various offices and is active in the degrees of those bodies. He was initiated a member of Bonneville Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in January of 1991. He has since demitted from both organizations.

Was a member of the 168th Reunion, Salt Lake Valley, Orient of Utah, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, held in November of 1986. On November 11, 1991 he was elected K.C.C.H. He served as Chairman of the membership committee for many years. He was invested with the 33 Degree, Inspector General Honorary title in 1997.

He was created a Noble in EI Kalah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in September of 1989.

A member, and Past Patron of Mt. Olympus Chapter No. 23, Midvale, Utah, Order of the Eastern Star. He held the office of Worthy Grand Patron, Grand Chapter of Utah, in 2001.

He was initiated in Ogden Chapter, International Order of DeMolay in the spring of 1967. This was the last meeting held in the old Masonic Lodge room on Washington Blvd. Recipient of the DeMolay Chevalier Degree, Blue Honor Key, Cross of honor, and Legion of Honor. He was Executive Officer of Utah State DeMolay from October 2001-2003.

Appointed to the Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Utah in 1986 by Past Grand Master Jesse R. Barnes and has served in various offices in that body. Appointed Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota near the Grand Lodge of Utah in 1990.

He is a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake.

Electronically Transcribed as written without corrections to grammar or spelling by Aaron E. Saathoff, P.M., March, 2005.

Bio updated October 10, 2009 - George Winters, Grand Historian