The North Carolina Mason

Page 10 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2021 Two long-serving Masons have received the Joseph Montfort Medal, our Craft's highest honor. Past Grand Master Dewey R. Preslar Jr. received the award from Grand Master R. David Wicker Jr. on Aug. 13 at the end of the quarterly board meeting of the Masonic Home for Children. MW Preslar was raised in 1988 at Andrew Jackson #576 in Salisbury. He served in 1993. He also is a member of Rockingham #495, a charter member of Orphans #761 and Sophia #767 and an honorary member of 16 other NC lodges. MW Preslar has served on numerous Grand Lodge committees and boards, including Finance, Jurisprudence, Committee on the Masonic Home for Children, Committee on WhiteStone, Board of General Purposes, Board of Directors of WhiteStone and chairs the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home for Children. He recently was conferred Emeritus Board Member status, one of only four Masons to have ever been so honored. On Aug. 16, at his final district meeting, MW Wicker presented the Montfort medal to WB Herbert C. "Dicky" Lyon. WB Lyon is a member of Eno #210 in Durham, a charter member of Mosaic #762 and an honorary member of Eagle #19, Knap of Reeds #158 and Oak Grove #750. WB Lyon served as Master of Eno Lodge in 1990 and Master of Mosaic in 2013. WB Lyon has served as secretary of Eno Lodge for 30 years. He also has served as the District Deputy Grand Lecturer for the 19th Masonic District for 10 years as well as District Deputy Grand Master, on the Grand Lodge Board of Custodians and as Grand Lecturer. For many years, WB Lyon has assisted the various lodges in the 19th Masonic District, as well as the surrounding districts, with their degree work and provided countless schools of instruction and lecture services. e medal honors the work and memory of Joseph Montfort, the only Provincial Grand Master for America. He died before the American Revolution began and is buried in the front yard of Royal White Hart #2 in Halifax, where he was a member. Montfort's memory lives on through this award and through the hundreds of dedi- cated Masons who have been honored with the medal. Preslar, Lyon awarded Montfort honors Grand Master R. David Wicker Jr., left, presents Past Grand Master Dewey Preslar with the Montfort Medal. WB Dicky Lyon, left, receives the Montfort Medal from Grand Master R. David Wicker Jr. Time to sign up for GM Run! e Second Annual Grand Master's Run is off and running. Deadline for your walk or run is Dec. 4! e run – which honors the outgoing and incoming grand masters and raises funds for our charities – was formally kicked off at Annual Commu- nication with registrations far exceeding last year's total. All runners will receive a special lapel pin and a matching medal for completing the event. We have inventive brethren sponsoring local sports teams and making big strides with their communities. Some are using the run to market the faces of Masonry in their communities. As an added bonus, any lodge that has two brothers complete the Grand Master's Run this year will earn a credit toward the philanthropy portion of the Lion and Pillar award. Registration is simple: go to ncgmrun.eventbrite.com to sign up today. Remember, the first 200 registrants will receive a special signed card from the Grand Master, and these are going fast. "See" you at the finish line! Photo by PGM Gene Jernigan

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