In a special ceremony this summer, local resident Doug Alcorn was honored with the presentation of a 50-Year Pin, presented during a ceremony at the Escalon Masonic Lodge.
The evening celebration included both a dinner and the recognition program, with many Lodge members, family members and friends in attendance. Alcorn was accompanied by his wife, Diane Gillispie-Alcorn, along with their two daughters and their families.
Providing the rich history of Alcorn’s involvement with the Masonic Lodge were his daughters, Katie Jefferson and Meg Thrall.
“It is with great pride and joy that we gather tonight to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone – fifty years of unwavering commitment and fellowship in the Masonic Order. Tonight, we honor our father, Douglas Alcorn, who has devoted half a century of his life to the ideals of brotherhood, service and personal growth. Fifty years strong – a testament to his enduring dedication and the values that have guided him every step of the way,” daughter Meg said in welcoming the crowd to the special event.
“When we think of commitment, we often think of dedication, perseverance and loyalty. For fifty years, our father has exemplified these traits in his service to the Masonic Order. But commitment in Masonry goes beyond just showing up or fulfilling duties – it is about embodying the principles of brotherly love, relief and truth in every aspect of life. Our father has lived these principles each day, making them a cornerstone of his character and his relationships with others,” added daughter Katie. “In addition to his time as a Mason he also was afforded the opportunity to join the local chapter of the Shriners where his favorite event was taking the mule team to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Sacramento. For several years, he’d leave before sunrise on Christmas day to help load the mules with Dave Daley, then hitch them to a wagon to deliver Santa Claus to the children in the burn unit on Christmas morning. It meant so much to him to be a part of that tradition.”
Other traditions have also played an important role in his life, his daughters noted, and with those traditions additional time was devoted to his pursuits including Knight Sounds, his Downey High School alumni band, where he was a constant fixture as the tuba player for 18 years. The Knight Sounds played gigs and raised money to provide scholarships to graduating Downey High School seniors looking to continue their musical education.
He has also committed time to leading local 4-H groups and played a big part in fair entries for dairy cows, rabbits, and gardening. From training a heifer to walk on a lead rope to showmanship in the ring and planting an early spring garden to harvesting colorful vegetables to showcase, Alcorn was there to provide guidance. He has also been a member of Escalon Sunrise Rotary for the past 18 years, serving as President in 2009 and assisting with the Sergeant-at-Arms position at multiple large Rotary events throughout Central California.
“Our family has a deep history of fellowship. Our maternal grandfather, Robert William Gillispie, was also a Master Mason of Escalon Lodge No. 591 serving as Worshipful Master in 1968,” Katie added. “Dad’s brother was a senior Demolay. Both our paternal and fraternal grandmothers were long-standing members of Eastern Star as was Dad’s sister. Our mother is a 50-year member of the Escallonia Chapter of Eastern Star. Both our aunts and our mother were Rainbow Girls and our mother served at the state level in the Grand Assembly.”
The sisters explained how they had spent countless evenings at the local Masonic Lodge at their parent’s side.
“Observing how they interacted with community members – how they listened with intent, spoke with humility, and gave their time without expectation,” Katie said. “It was in those moments, often unnoticed, that the true spirit of Masonry came alive for us – not in grand gestures, but in quiet consistency.”
The Alcorn family has a legacy of over 150 years combined in the Masonic Order, with Doug Alcorn’s father and grandfather both being Master Masons.
During his 50 years with the organization, Alcorn has held the offices of Junior Warden, Senior Warden, Worshipful Master, Secretary (for over 20 years), Marshal, Treasurer and Officers Coach, among others. At the Grand Lodge level, he held the role of Inspector from 2003-2005 and then again from 2008-2012. He also began a program for Public Schools month that lasted for many years. A student was selected by the staff at each of the seven schools in the Escalon Unified School District. That student along with their family and the teacher were invited to a dinner at the Escalon Masonic Lodge. The student was recognized with the teacher giving a brief summary of why the student was selected. Each student was then awarded a certificate from the lodge.
“Dad’s commitment to this fellowship, year after year, has made him a pillar of strength in the Lodge, and his impact will be felt for generations to come,” Katie said. “Your example continues to inspire those in your presence and your legacy in the Masonic Order is something that we will all carry forward with pride.”
“As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we don’t just celebrate the passage of time. We celebrate the growth, the friendships and the countless lives that have been touched by our father’s dedication,” Meg added. “His fifty years in Masonry are not just a number – they are a testament of his commitment to the principles that have shaped him as a man and as a brother.”
