My Mentor, A Masonic Exemplar: Stories from Illinois Freemasons
Think back to the moment you realized you were not walking alone.
For most Masons, there is a man behind that moment. Someone who answered your questions without making you feel small for asking. Someone who showed up at your degree, at your first meeting, and sometimes in the middle of an ordinary Tuesday when you needed support. Someone who saw what you could become before you saw it yourself.
That is what a Masonic Exemplar is. Not a title or a formality, but a living commitment; Brother to Brother, passed down through the generations of Freemasonry. And today, on Masonic Mentor Appreciation Day, we stop to say thank you.
This year’s theme is “My Mentor: A Masonic Exemplar.” In the tributes that follow, four Illinois Brothers share the stories of the men who shaped them through patience and presence, through hard lessons and quiet encouragement, and through decades of friendship that began with an apron and a handshake. Their stories are as different as the men who lived them, but they share one thread: a mentor who showed up, and a Mason who was changed forever because of it.
RWB Angelo Deserio on MW PGM Anthony R. Cracco
RWB Angelo Deserio (right) with his mentor, MW PGM Anthony R. Cracco (left)
Masonic Mentor Appreciation Day, it is fitting to honor a man whose quiet leadership and enduring example have shaped countless Masons: MW PGM Anthony R. Cracco.
MW Brother Cracco has been a truly inspiring mentor to me throughout my Masonic career, beginning with my investigation to petition for membership back in 2001, through my years as Worshipful Master (five times in four different lodges), my terms as a District Deputy Grand Master, Area Assistant Deputy Grand Master, and a Grand Lodge Officer.
As a mentor, he exemplifies the very principles Freemasonry seeks to instill—integrity, humility, patience, and a steadfast commitment to making good men better. His guidance is not delivered through grand speeches alone, but through consistent action, thoughtful counsel, and a genuine interest in the growth of others.
His impact is lasting, his lessons enduring, and his example one that will continue to inspire for years to come.
RWB Richard Barnett on WB Randy E. Jones
The late WB Randy E. Jones
Every Mason can point to someone who shaped his journey. For many of us from the Marion G. Laubscher Chapter of the Order of DeMolay, that man was WB Randy E. Jones of Hibbard Lodge No. 249 in Brighton, Illinois.
Randy was the kind of man you don’t just remember, but you measure yourself against. A veteran of the United States Army from 1972 to 1980, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant, he carried a life marked by discipline, sacrifice, and service. He later served two tours in Afghanistan as a civilian with the Corps of Engineers and continued that same spirit of service as a Lockmaster at Lock and Dam 27.
He was instrumental in forming our DeMolay chapter. He sacrificed his time, his resources, and often his own schedule to haul a group of young, energetic, and sometimes wild teenagers across the state of Illinois. Not because he had to, but because he believed in what we could become.
As one of the oldest members of that inaugural class, Randy leaned on me early to help lead. But more importantly, he walked beside me and taught me what leadership truly meant.
Randy changed my life. I was a shy kid, content to stay in the background. But he saw something more in me. He challenged me, encouraged me, and pulled me out of my shell. While my own father was a good and hardworking man, the demands of his job often kept him busy. During those high school years, I probably spent more evenings with Randy than I did at home, and I am better for it.
Over time, my relationship with Randy grew. I moved from calling him “Dad” in the DeMolay setting to calling him “Brother” as I followed him into Freemasonry. Through every degree, every step, and every new responsibility, he was there, steady, encouraging, and leading by example. And somewhere along the way, regardless of age or title, he simply became my friend.
We lost Randy in February of 2008 in a tragic car accident on an icy morning as he was on his way to work. His passing left a void that can never truly be filled. WB Randy E. Jones was more than a mentor. He was a Masonic Exemplar. His life was a living demonstration of service, leadership, and Brotherly love.
Brother Tyler McKelvey on WB Eric Wilson
WB Brother Eric Wilson
WB Eric Wilson has been much more than an Exemplar to me; he has been a steadfast guide, a vital mentor, and a loyal friend. He never waits for a convenient moment to offer support; instead, he has stood firmly by my side whenever I was in need, serving as a true 'Cable Tow' no matter how far he had to reach.
Over the years, I have watched Eric extend that same level of care to every new Mason who enters our doors. He consistently goes out of his way to ensure no candidate feels lost in the dark, investing himself selflessly in the success of others. His tireless dedication to our Lodge transcends mere duty. It is a labor of love.
Whether he is guiding a Brother through their degrees or quietly serving behind the scenes, Eric embodies the Working Tools in action. By living out the virtues of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth every single day, he has become a cornerstone of our community. Eric doesn’t just recite the tenets of our Craft; he lives them, setting a standard of character we should all strive to emulate. He is the very definition of what a Mason should be, and I am profoundly honored to call him my Brother.
Brother Steve Fararre on WB Brother Jeffrey Armour
Brother Steve Fararre and RW Brother Jeffrey Armour
WB Jeffrey Armour became more than just a mentor, but a real Brother. He would call just to chat and see how I was doing between my degrees, then raised me to Master Mason during his term as Worshipful Master. He and his family would come over for cookouts and birthdays.
He also rushed to my side, dropping everything when I had a medical emergency on 2 separate occasions, being the person who rushed me to the hospital. He not only took me but then sat with me and took me home.
WB Armour has also been there anytime I have a question about something Masonic or anything else, helping me be a better man and a better Mason.
The Enduring Legacy of the Masonic Exemplar
Four Brothers. Four mentors. Four stories of men who showed up, not because it was required of them, but because they understood that Freemasonry is, at its core, a human endeavor. It is built not in lodge rooms alone, but in the quiet moments between meetings, in the phone calls and cookouts, in the hospital waiting rooms, and the long drives across Illinois.
On this Masonic Mentor Appreciation Day, we encourage every Mason in Illinois to reach out to the man who walked beside you when you were new, and to consider becoming that person for someone else. The tradition of mentorship is how we ensure the Craft endures not just in ritual, but in the character of the men who carry it forward.
Happy Masonic Mentor Appreciation Day to all our Brothers, and a special thank you to every Exemplar who has answered the call.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Masonic Mentor Appreciation Day is an annual observance by the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M., when Freemasons honor the Brothers who guided them through the Craft. It recognizes the role mentorship plays in developing new Masons and preserving the traditions of Freemasonry.
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A Masonic Exemplar is a Brother who lives out the principles of Freemasonry—Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth—in a way that sets a standard for others to follow. Exemplars often serve as informal mentors, guiding newer Masons through their degrees and beyond.
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Masonic Mentor Appreciation Day is observed annually on the first Saturday in May. In 2026, the theme is “My Mentor: A Masonic Exemplar.”
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Illinois Freemasons celebrate by reaching out to the Brothers who mentored them, sharing tributes and stories of their mentors, and recommitting to mentoring newer Masons. The Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. encourages every Mason to honor the man who walked beside him when he was new to the Craft.
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To become an Illinois Freemason, a man must be at least 18 years old, believe in a Supreme Being, and be of good moral character. Interested men can request information through the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. website or by contacting a local Lodge.