Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge No. 291 hosted a Firefighter’s Master Mason Degree on November 1, 2023, at their Masonic Temple located at 14020 Marguerite Dr. in Madeira Beach. The Firefighter Degree Team is in its 20th year and has conferred several degrees on Firefighters who are also Freemasons. The Degree Team for this event included the following firefighter Masons from the greater Tampa Bay area; Derryl O’Neal (Retired Chief from Madeira Beach Fire Rescue and member of Gulf Beach Lodge), Rick Wendling (Retired Firefighter from East Lake Fire Rescue and member of Sutherland Lodge), Rick Caravona (Retired Captain from Pasco County Fire Rescue and member of Dade City Lodge), Mark Goldfeder (Retired from Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue and member of Sutherland Lodge) , Howard Knapp (Retired Captain from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and member of Gulf Beach Lodge), Alan Shedler (Retired Lieutenant from Seminole Fire Rescue and member of Gulf Beach Lodge), Tim Delaney (Retired Lieutenant from Hope Jackson Fire Department Scituate, RI and member of Gulf Beach Lodge), Ray Hughes (Captain Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and member of Sutherland Lodge), Jim Tizzano (Retired Battalion Chief from East Brunswick Fire Department, NJ), Mike Manning (Retired Captain from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and member of Hillsborough Lodge No. 25), AJ Weldon (Captain Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and member of Windhorst Lodge, Tampa) and Dominic Bueller (Driver Engineer from Madeira Beach Fire Rescue and member of Gulf Beach Lodge). Others who took an active part in the evening’s event were Mark Niceley, Fernando Gonzalez, Richard Hoover, Bill Sundquist, David Neville and Glen Bishop. Following a wonderful Chili Meal prepared by Brother Tim Delaney, the Master Mason Degree was conferred upon Brother Chip Crain, Captain from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and member of Sutherland Lodge in presence of 56 Masons.
A number of notable dignitaries of the fraternity were present to view and take part in the evening’s degree. Most Worshipful Glen B. Bishop, Grand Master was in attendance and took an active roll in the Degree after which the Firefighter Degree Team conferred upon him an Honorary Fire Chief title and presented him his own personalized Fire Chief’s helmet. Others joining the Grand Master at the degree were Past Grand Masters, Richard G. Hoover and Robert J. Lambert along with Grand Sword Bearer, Rick Wendling, Grand Musician, Bryan Shuler, Grand Marshal, Paul Stellrecht and Junior Grand Steward John Drewett.