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Contact Information:
Grand Exalted Ruler
Hon. Michael F. Smith
Plant City, FL Lodge #1727
P.O. Box 3230
Pensacola, FL 32516-3230
(850) 457-3120 (office)
(850) 457-2181 (fax)
Email: msmithelks@bellsouth.net
Grand Est. Leading Knight
SD Grand Exalted Ruler
Lowell Stephens
2443 Desert Hills Dr.
Alamogordo, NM. 88310
Hm. 575-437-4816
Wk. 575-437-5810
e-mail: elkspsp@pioneer-title.com
Other Contacts:
Grand Secretary
Honorable: Bryan R. Klatt (Susan)
Bus. 773-755-4700
2750 Lake View Ave
Chicago, IL. 60614
e-mail: bryank@elks.org
e-mail: grandlodge@elks.org
Grand Forum
Honorable: Millard C. Pickering (Susanne)
Res. 918- 595-7463
PO Box 9633
Tulsa, OK 74157-9633
Judiciary Area 6 (NM)
Honorable: John D. Amen (Marcia)
Res. 303-637-7908
Bus. 303-637-7908
15128 Wagon Wheel Dr.
Brighton, CO. 80603-5746
Auditing Area 6 (NM)
Harry James Dumond (Demetria)
742 W Tyrolean Ct
Canon City, CO 81212-4393
Home: (719) 276-3127
Office: (719) 276-3127
e-mail: hdu7838201@aol.com
Building Applications West
Hon. James F Kile
Boise, ID Lodge #0310
18174 Madison Rd
Nampa, ID 83687-8040
Lodge Activities/State Association Area 6
Larry N Tomberlin (Ellen)
8 Catalpa Ln
Peralta, NM 87042-5320
Home: (505)865-3952
Office: (505)864-5572
Fax: (505)864-4930
Email: lt30two@aol.com
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Grand Exalted Ruler Michael F. Smith
Michael F. Smith was born on October 2, 1949, the second of two children, and was raised in Plant City, Florida. He was never far from the ocean and from Florida’s inland lakes, and he developed a lifelong love of water. A strong athlete, Michael excelled in sports and was named captain of his high school basketball team, which won the state championship during his senior year. He was named MVP of the tournament, captain of the All-Star team, and captain and MVP of the North-South All Stars. He received a full basketball scholarship to St. Leo College, in Florida.
After college, Michael married his high school sweetheart, Sandra, and they started a family. Michael was initiated into the Plant City, Florida, Lodge, his father’s lodge, on January 22, 1979, and with Sandra’s support, immediately became active in lodge activities and committees. Both their son, Todd, and their daughter, Jennifer, grew up in the lodge and both have continued their family’s involvement with the Order. Todd became a member of the Plant City Lodge on September 25, 1995, and Jennifer’s husband, Steve, is a past exalted ruler at the Plant City Lodge. Michael and Sandra are very proud of both children and their many accomplishments. Jennifer is a high school teacher and college professor and Todd is a pharmaceutical representative. Michael and Sandra also enjoy their seven grandchildren and are happy to cheer them on in their many youth sports activities.
As a member of the Plant City Lodge, Michael started Christmas in the Park, which became an annual Christmas Day tradition in downtown Plant City, during which the Elks would cook a traditional turkey dinner for a few thousand less fortunate families. He also initiated annual holiday dinners to honor the local police and fire departments.
Michael has served the Plant City Elks in many positions, including two terms as exalted ruler (1992–1993 and 1993–1994). He worked his way through the chairs, spent several years as a trustee, and still chairs the Memorial Day Service each year. At the state level, Michael was named district vice president before serving the Florida State Elks Association as state president in 2001–2002. Michael sits on several boards for the state, including the Florida State Elks Association board of directors, and he is currently chairman and president of the Harry-Anna Investment Fund. At the Grand Lodge level, Michael served in 1998–1999 as district deputy for the Southwest Central District of Florida before being appointed to the Grand Lodge’s Lodge Activities Committee in 2000 and becoming chairman in 2005. Chosen as Grand Esteemed Lecturing Knight for 2005–2006, Michael joined the Grand Lodge Board of Grand Trustees in 2006 and currently serves as chairman of the board.
Michael has been in the insurance business for over thirty years, primarily in the health care field. His practice consists of payroll administration, human resources, plan design, and administration for self-funded and fully insured benefit programs. Michael also works with Innovation HR & Benefits. In addition to the insurance industry, Michael is a partner in a hotel in St. Petersburg Beach, serves on the board of directors for a management company, and has served as the president of a condominium association for the past twenty years.
Michael enjoys golf and boating. His affiliations are the BPO Elks, Florida Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, National Association of Health Underwriters, National Retirement Plan Advisors, National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, First Baptist Church of Plant City, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and Pasadena Yacht and Country Club, where Michael has served on the board of directors.
Michael F. Smith is just one of many hardworking and dedicated Florida Elks. He is convinced that our focus on charity, children, and veterans will rekindle our desire to serve and that if we “Promote Elks Passion,” the Order will prosper and attract new members.“PROMOTE ELKS PASSION”
Grand Est. Leading Knight (2010-11)
Special Deputy Grant Exalted Ruler Lowell D. Stephens
Business: Pioneer Abstract & Title Company since 1965 – Owner since 1987.
Pioneer Title Escrow Service.
Alamogordo Improvement Company.
As a member of B.P.O.E. #1897 since 1975, Lowell served as chairman of the Entertainment Committee several years before
starting in the chairs as Leading Knight in 1982-83, Exalted Ruler 1983-84, Trustees, and completing the term of an Exalted Ruler
whose illness necessitated resignation in 1988. He has been Chairman of the local P.E.R. association, ritual coach, continues to
work with new officers and ritual coaches and was elected to Honorary Life Membership in 1997.
Lowell served as Southwest District Officer Training Chairman and two terms as State Officer Training Chairman and Sergeant at
Arms for the New Mexico Elks Association in 1985-86. He has been a Ritual Judge, judging on the District and State levels and as
an out-of-state judge for Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming and as Southwest District Ritual Chairman. He served as State Ritual
Chairman in 1992-94. He was New Mexico Elks Fall Convention Coordinator and when Alamogordo hosted its first convention in
1983, when it returned in 1988, and again for 1993. He was in charge of the dedication ceremony for the new #1897 Lodge building
April 20, 1996.
He was Southwest District Deputy in 1990-91 and has attended Grand Lodge conventions in Honolulu, Las Vegas, Dallas, Portland,
Chicago, New Orleans, Kansas City, Reno, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Orlando. He is a member of the Elks National
Foundation Bronze Circle of Giving and was accepted into the John F. Malley Society last year.
Lowell was 1993 President of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, Past Chairman and Board Member of the Alamogordo
Committee of Fifty, Past Board Member of the Otero County Economic Development Council, a past member of the New Mexico
Amigos, member of the Fran Parker Chapter of the Air Force Association, member of Grace United Methodist Church serving on
the Administrative Board and as former Chairman of the finance Committee, long time member and former President of the
Alamogordo Century Club, Past President of the New Mexico Land Title Association and was the recipient of the Association’s
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. He is a past member and chairman of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation and
a past member of the New Mexico Border Authority.
His business received an Outstanding Employer Award from the B.P.W. Club in 1987 and the Board of Realtors honored it as
Affiliate of the Year for 1994. He has served as President and Board Member of the Otero County Boys Club. He was named as
an Outstanding Young Man of America in 1979 and Who’s Who Worldwide in 1992.
He earned his private pilot’s license in 1980 and attended the National Security Forum at the Air War College in Montgomery,
Alabama in June of 1993. Working closely with the local military, he has participated in several civic leader tours to various Air Force
Bases. He was named Alamogordo’s Citizen of the Year for 1995.
He has been a member of the Alamogordo Noon Lions Club since 1965. As a Lion, he was elected on the Local level as Lion Tamer,
Secretary, Vice President, President and Board Member and on the District level as Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer 1969-70, Deputy
District Governor 1975-77, and District Governor 1978. Awards received include the Lion of the Year 1969-70, 100% District Governor
1978-79, and New Mexico Lions Scroll of Honor 1985.
Lowell was born in Lubbock, Texas, graduated from Glen Rose, Texas and attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales,
New Mexico. He has been married to the former Karen Quarles of Lovington, New Mexico since 1963 and they have two sons,
Jeff and Greg, and four grandchildren. Greg and Jeff are both PER's of Alamogordo Lodge No 1897.
*** Hon. Paul D. Helsel PGER, appointed Hon. Lowell Stephens to the Position Of Special Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for New Mexico, effective 7-26-2008. Executive Order No. 08-008.
Larry N Tomberlin- Area 6 Grand Lodge Lodge Activities/State Associations Committee
Past State President, Larry Tomberlin has been re-appointed to serve on the Grand Lodge - Lodge Activities/State Associations Committee for the 2010-2011 Grand Lodge year. This is Larry’s second year to serve on the committee.
Larry was initiated into the order in January of 1976 with Gallup Lodge 1440, where he immediately assumed the position of Chaplin. He progressed normally through the chairs and was elected Exalted Ruler for the fraternal year 1984-85. He served on the Board of Trustees from 1985 -90. During his tenure in Gallup he served on various Lodge Committees.
After his stint as Exalted Ruler, Larry served on various committees for the NMEA, which included New Lodges, Golf, Hoop Shoot, and Youth Activities, which he chaired in 1994. Larry was elected to the NMEA Board of Trustees in 1990, serving five years, three of which he chaired the Committee. Larry was elected Vice President of the NMEA in 1995, President Elect in 1996 and served as State President in 1997-98. Larry served on the State Convention Committee from 1998-2004. He chaired the committee for three years. Larry then chaired the NMEA Grand Lodge Committee from 1999-2003.
Larry has chaired the NMEA Advisory & Nominating Committee twice, in 1999-2000 and 2003-04. He was named NMEA Elk of the Year in 2002 by then President Everett Wheeler. Larry has attended Grand Lodge Sessions in Houston, Chicago, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Dallas, Reno and Portland twice.
Larry was appointed District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler by the Honorable Charles F. (Chuck) Williams for the fraternal year 1993-94. Larry also served as Esquire to DDGER John Spinelli in 1988-89. Larry has also served as Special Representative for PGER Chuck Williams from 2007-2009. Larry is presently serving as District Advisor New Mexico North.
Larry is a native New Mexican. He was born December 26, 1951 and raised in Albuquerque. After graduation from Manzano High School he attended UNM before joining the United States Navy in 1971. He was home ported in Norfolk, VA aboard the USS Shenandoah AD-26 and was honorably discharged in 1975 holding the rank of 2nd Class Boatswains Mate. Larry returned home and began a career in law enforcement. After graduating from the New Mexico State Police Academy, Larry was commissioned a New Mexico State Police Officer on October 1, 1975 and stationed in Gallup as a Patrolman, in the Uniformed Bureau. In 1979 he transferred to the Narcotics Bureau, working various assignments through out New Mexico while maintaining his residence in Gallup. Larry resigned his commission on November 10, 1981 to take a position with the AT&SF Railway as a Special Agent in Gallup. He was commissioned a Railroad Police Officer on November 12, 1981 pursuant to NMSA 63-2-18 by then Governor Bruce King. Larry remained in Gallup until he was transferred to Belen in 1990. Larry is a graduate of the 161st class of the Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. Larry was promoted to Lieutenant in 1993, Captain in 1995 and Deputy Chief of Police in 2002. Larry oversees the BNSF Railway Police Operations in New Mexico and Arizona. Larry holds an Executive Level Law Enforcement Certification, issued by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
Larry and his wife Ellen have been married for 26 years; have three grown children and two grandchildren. Larry and Ellen reside in Peralta, NM