Page 28 - Sojourner Newsletter-Winter 2025_FINAL

28 THE SOJOURNER

retirement and move to Austin, Texas, his primary Chapter '76 on 20 July 1979, with the Ohio River serving the useful
became Anson Jones #507. At the national level, he was purpose for the Degree. In early 1980, CPT Yudesis was
elected to the Committee of 33 in 2000, serving until 2001, appointed National Judge Advocate, when the elected NJA,
when he was elected to the National Progressive Line. He LTC Winn M. Thurman, resigned. Brother CPT Yudesis was
served as National President 2005-2006. In 2006, he was first elected at the 60th National Convention in 1980 and was
elected to the Honor Awards Committee, and in 2008, he was re-elected in 1983, serving until 1986. At the 66th National
elected to the National Trustees, where he served until 2017. Convention in 1986, MAJ Yudesis was elected N3VP and
He was elected to the Sojourner Ritual Committee in 2009. served as NP in 1990-91. After serving as NP, MAJ Yudesis
Brother McVeigh received the Legion of Honor in 2015. In was elected a National Trustee in 1991 and served in that
addition to elected positions, he also served on the capacity until 2000. In 1995, he was elected to the Honor
Americanism and Fraternal Liaison Committees. He was also Awards Committee. In 2000, he was elected as National
a member of the Royal Order of the Barrow Wheelers. During Commander and was re-elected as National Judge Advocate, a
his term as National President, Brother COL Andrew J. position he held until 2024. In 2009, he received the Legion of
McVeigh III, 33°, chartered four Chapters: Mustang #542, Honor, and in 2019, he received the Van Deventer Trophy. In
Shenandoah Valley #543, Northern Indiana #544, and total, Brother MAJ Benjamin M. Yudesis, 33°, served a total of
William Hooper #546. 44 years as an Active National Officer (NJA 1980-86 and
Brother COL Andrew J. McVeigh laid down his working 2000-24), N3VP through NP 1986-91), National Trustee
tools on 31May 2024 in Austin, Texas. 1991-2000, and National Commander (2000-01). These
continuous positions make him the longest-serving National
Officer in the Order’s history, and one of three Sojourners to
Benjamin Marcus Yudesis: 1938-2024 hold four National leadership positions: NP, NC, NJA, and
National Trustee. The closest to his years of service are MG
MAJ Benjamin Marcus Amos A. Fries, 33°, with 40 years of active service and MAJ
Yudesis, 33° Nelson O. Newcombe with 37 years of active service.
Personal: Benjamin M Yudesis Among the 50,000+ Sojourners, ranking in the top 500
was born on 13 November Sojourners would be the top 1%, in the top 50 would be the top
1938 in Harlingen, Texas to Sol 0.1%, and being in the top 5 would be the top 0.01%. This is
and Miriam Yudesis. He the rare environment in which Brother Benjamin M. Yudesis
graduated from the Agricultural operated by being:
and Mechanical College of • 1 of 131 National Trustees since 1922.
Texas (currently Texas A&M) • 1 of 96 National Commanders (NC) since 1922.
in 1961 with a Bachelor’s
Degree in History and from the • 1 of 88 National Presidents (NP) since 1919.
University of Texas School of • 1 of 57 Legion of Honor (LOH) recipients since 1961.
Law in 1964 with a Doctor of • 1 of 24 Van Deventer Trophy (VDT) recipients since 1998.
Jurisprudence Degree. He was • 1 of 14 National Judge Advocates (NJA) since 1927.
admitted to practice before the • 1 of 19 NPs and NCs since 1936.
NJA#11 (1980-86 & 2000-24), Supreme Court of the United
NP #54 (1990-91), States, the Supreme Court of • 1 of 13 NPs, NCs, and LOH recipients since 1957.
NC #72 (2000-01), • 1 of 5 NPs, NCs, and LOH and VDT recipients since 1998.
NC&NP #16, Texas, the United States • 1 of 3 NPs and NJAs since 1954.
LOH #44 (2009), District Court for the Southern
VDT #20 (2019) District of Texas, the 5th Army • 1 of 2 NPs, NCs, NJAs, National Trustees, and LOH
Court of Military Review, and recipients since 2007.
the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. After his military service, MAJ Benjamin M. Yudesis, 33°, laid down his working tools
he returned to San Benito, Texas, where he served as a in Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas on 26
Magistrate and Judge. December 2024. Benjamin was buried with full military honors
Uniformed Service: Benjamin M. Yudesis entered the U.S. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio,
Army on 13 September 1969 and was commissioned a 2LT. He Texas, on Monday, 6 January 2025.
graduated from the Judge Advocate General Corps Advanced
Course and the U.S. Army Command and Staff College. He
was the Staff Judge Advocate at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. He
retired as a MAJ on 1 July 1990 with nearly 21 years of service.
Masonic History: Brother Benjamin M. Yudesis, 33°, was
raised in San Benito Lodge #1064 on 21 January 1961. He was
a York Mason, was coronated a 33° I.G.H. in the Scottish Rite
(A.A.S.R.-SJ), and was a member of Moslah Temple
(A.A.O.N.M.S.) in Fort Worth, Texas. He was a Senior
DeMolay and received the Chevalier Degree.
National Sojourners® & Heroes of ‘76®: Brother CPT
Benjamin M. Yudesis, 33°, joined Kentucky Chapter #134 on
9 February 1978 and served as Chapter Second and Third Vice
President. He was initiated in Daniel Boone Camp, Heroes of