Elmer Clarence Kimmons, Jr.

Elmer Clarence Kimmons, Jr., was born at Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended the University of Texas in 1926–1927 and the Texas Business Institute in 1927–1928, and did further work at the University of Houston and Texas A&M. A salesman when he became a Mason, he later joined the Houston Lighting & Power Company and made his home in Baytown. He married Ethel Thompson on December 13, 1927, and they had three children: Joanne, Jack Eugene and Joyce Laverne. A longtime member of the Christian Church, he was active in Scouting and community charities, serving as drive chairman for the United Fund and the Cancer Society, chairman and vice president of the Galveston District of the Boy Scouts, president of the Lions Club, and president of the Chamber of Commerce. His hobbies were golf, gardening and shop work.

He received his degrees in Gray Lodge in 1937: the Entered Apprentice on August 23, the Fellowcraft on October 18, and the Master Mason degree on November 22. He was Senior Deacon in 1943–1944 and then Junior and Senior Warden. As the 75th Master of Gray Lodge he had the rare privilege of being installed by his own father, E. C. Kimmons, Sr., Past Master of Alvin Lodge No. 762 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master, with Past Master J. P. Cornelius as Marshal. Past Master K. E. Gaugler was installed as Secretary that night.

His year was one of rebuilding after the war. A Repair, Maintenance and Improvement Committee took on the furniture, lodge room, windows, draperies, painting and plastering; $8,000 went to the Building Fund, $2,000 to repairs, and $17,000 of the Building Fund was invested in U.S. Government Bonds. Gray Lodge paid its $1,500 share of repairs to the Temple, and the Gray-Temple Masonic Corporation tightened control of building keys. The lodge approved petitions for Gus A. Brandt Lodge and a new lodge in South Houston.

On April 16, 1947, the Texas City disaster took more than four hundred lives. That evening Worshipful Master Kimmons called the lodge up to stand in silent memory, and by June the members of Gray Lodge had given $1,800 for Texas City relief. A memorial service for the Masons killed in the disaster was held on May 28 in the Texas City High School stadium.

Brother Kimmons was a York Rite Mason, with his Royal Arch membership in Goose Creek Chapter No. 408 and his Knight Templar membership in Kenedy Commandery No. 61 at Baytown. He was also a Shriner and served as president of the Baytown Shrine Club in 1956.