Most Worshipful Brother James D. Woodward

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

M∴W∴ Brother Woodward was raised and educated in the small Wyoming town of Jackson, (better known as Jackson Hole by the vacationing tourist). During the summer he participated in all of the outdoor activities a young man would normally find in that quiet mountain community. Since the Snow King chair lift was within walking distance of his house, he was able to enjoy the sport of skiing at a very young age. He joined The United States Air Force in 1958 and served on active duty for 22 years. His military travels included assignments to such places as Okinawa, Formosa, Alaska, Vietnam, Italy and many duty stations within the continental United States. During his career in the Air Force he served as a Crash Rescue Firefighter, Military Training Instructor, Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Counselor and he retired as a Squadron First Sergeant at Hill AFB, Utah in 1979. While in the Air Force his studies in the field of psychology, focused primarily on Drug and Alcohol Abuse and rehabilitation methodology.After his retirement from the Air Force, Brother Woodward decided to break from his past and start a new career. He was employed by the Schubach Jewelry Company and managed several of their fine jewelry stores along the Wasatch Front. After selling fine jewelry for a period of twenty years he retired again in 2001.

MW Brother Woodward’s Masonic career began when he was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Jackson Lodge No. 48, at Jackson Wyoming on November 15, 1993, and passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on December 6, 1993. He was there raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on January 12, 1994. During 1994 he affiliated with Wasatch Lodge No.1 in Salt Lake City, UT where he served as Worshipful Master in 1999. He has served as the presiding officer for all three of the Salt Lake York Rite bodies and is a recipient of the Knight York Cross of Honour. He is now serving as a Grand York Rite officer in the Grand Commandery, and the Grand Chapter. He is the current President of Salt Lake Chapter 117 of the National Sojourners and a member of the Heroes of 76. MW Brother Woodward served the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite as Venerable Master of the Jordan Lodge of Perfection in 1999, and Master of the Salt Lake Council of Kadosh in 2004. He was coroneted a 33º Inspector General Honorary on November 4, 2005, and is currently serving as Secretary General for the Valley of Salt Lake. Brother Woodward is a member of the Utah Research Lodge and served as its Worshipful Master in 1999. He has been a member of the El Kalah Shrine since 1994 and has served as a member of the Divan and twice as President of the Marching Patrol. He was appointed to the Utah Grand Lodge line as Grand Tyler in the year 2000 and has served as Grand Sword Bearer, Grand Marshal and Grand Lecturer. He was elected to the office of Junior Grand Warden in 2004. He is a member of the Red Cross of Constantine, the Royal Order of Scotland, and the Royal Order of Jesters. He is also a member of Tintic Lodge No. 9 in Eureka, UT. and Bannack Lodge No. 3-7-77 in Bannack Montana.

Brother Woodward now lives in Bountiful with his wife Peggy, where they are the proud parents of a combined family of 9 children, 29 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.