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11/4/2011 7:04 PM
Rembert Thigpen (Jack) Gladin, Jr. began his career on a cold Sunday morning in December 1929 in Sandersville, GA, son of Edith and Rembert Thigpen Gladin, Sr. For the next 17 years he led a fairly typical life growing up in the south. His father was a trainer and installer of equipment for the Western Union Company. That meant the company relocated the family fairly often throughout the states of Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia.
Jack’s father died when he was six years old. His mother remarried a Swift & Co. salesman which added 4 more states to his travels. In fact, through 12 years of his education he attended 14 different schools. Fortunately, the last 4 ½ years was in one location, Effingham, Illinois. With all of the moves and always being the new kid on the block, Jack developed the ability to make friends easily.
After graduation from high school Jack headed to college at Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute, IN. to study Chemical Engineering. Uncle Sam interrupted his college plans with the Korean War. Jack enlisted in the Navy and headed to Great Lakes Naval Training Base for his basic training. He then continued on to Jacksonville, Florida for Airman School, and then to Photographic School in Pensacola, Florida.
After the Navy’s photographer’s school he traveled to Washington D.C. where he started his photographic duties. Jack then was assigned to the Admiral‘s Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, VA. The fleet was assigned an area that covered the territory from the North Pole to the Equator and from the Mississippi River to Rhine. His assignments included most everything that the Navy or the Marine Corp sailed the sea on, and most everything that flew in the air.
After his military years, Gladin worked as a Commercial Photographer. He then moved to the University of Illinois as a Motion Picture Photographer for Sports Information. He was also the Assistant Manager of the Main Campus of the University of Illinois Photographic Service Department. Later he then moved on to become Manager of the Photographic Department of the Engineering Campus, where he worked until he retired from the University of Illinois in 1995.
Rembert (Jack) Gladin began his Masonic career at 22 when he came home on leave from boot camp.
| 4-4-1952 |
He was elected into the Effingham Lodge #149 |
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7-18-1952
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Initiated in Effingham Lodge #149 |
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9-18-1952
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Passed in Pensacola Florida, Navy Lodge #24 |
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11-28-1952
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Raised in Washington D. C. |
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3-6-1976
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Joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville |
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7-1-1988
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Scottish Rite Life Membership |
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12-19-1996
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Masonic Life Membership |
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11-28-2002
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50 year membership Masonic Lodge |
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6-2003
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Plural membership Western Star #240 |
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5-8-2004
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Mystic Shrine |
He was appointed Grand Historian to the Grand Lodge by J. Garrie Burr (1999) and has also served in that capacity at the pleasure of Grand Masters :
James E. Durbin (2001),
Charles H. Sullins (2003),
David W. Miller (2004),
Noel C. Dicks (2006),
Dan C. Yandel (2008),
Richard Louis Swaney, (2010)
He holds Honorary Membership in numerous Illinois Lodges.