Page 5 - Sojourner Newsletter-Summer 2024 Final1

Volume 101, Issue 3 5
− National Americanism Committee (since 2017)/ Vice Chairman – Patriotic Programs (since 2017)
− National Incentives and Awards Committee (since 2015)
− National Resolutions Committee (most years since 2018)
− National Nominating Committee (most years since 2019)
− National Heroes of ’76® Manual Committee (since 2023)
− National Heroes of ’76® Awards Committee (2022-2024)/ Chairman (2023-2024)
Brother Paul was raised a Master Mason in February, 2000, and is a Life Member of Fenton (MO) Lodge # 281.
Because he lives in Illinois, but had many friends who were Masons in Missouri, he gained dispensation to become a
Mason in Missouri. Brother Paul was made a Master of the Royal Secret in the Scottish Rite in March, 2001 in St. Louis
Valley, invested with the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, 32°, K.C.C.H. in
October, 2005, and Coroneted as an Inspector General Honorary, 33o in November of 2009. Brother Paul became a
Moolah Shriner in St. Louis, MO in November 2005.
From 2007 to 2022, Brother Paul served as the Executive Director of the Scottish Rite Cathedral Preservation
Association (SRCPA). The mission of the SRCPA is to preserve and restore the 100-year-old, architecturally significant
Scottish Rite Cathedral which is located in Grand Center, St. Louis’ historic arts and cultural district. Upon Brother
Paul’s retirement in 2022, he was made an Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors of the SRCPA. Brother Paul also
served as Executive Director of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri from 2018 to 2022. Before serving as
Executive Director of those two not-for-profit corporations, he served as the Executive Secretary (Chief Operating
Officer) of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis in 2005 and 2007. Brother Paul remains active with the Scottish Rite
and is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Work for the St. Louis Consistory, having served in 2016 as Master
of Kadosh (with Award of Distinction) of the St. Louis Consistory. He has also served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the
Thirty-Third Degree Association of St. Louis since 2010.
Prior to his tenure at the Scottish Rite, Brother Paul served on active duty in the United States Air Force (USAF),
retiring in 2005 after 22 years of honorable service. He served his entire military career as part of the USAF Public
Relations team, performing as principal and lead trumpeter in several USAF Bands. He performed throughout the
United States and in several foreign nations supporting USAF troop morale and community relations initiatives. His
credits include performances and/or recordings with George Burns, Dizzy Gillespie, Toni Tenille, Stan Getz, Maynard
Ferguson, Manhattan Transfer, the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras, Jamie Farr, Wilford Brimley, and The
Temptations, along with multiple appearances on the ABC Network’s “Good Morning America.” He has performed for
several Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States, for numerous other national dignitaries, for His Holiness,
Pope John Paul II, as well as many other members of European Royal Families and Heads of State. Administratively,
Brother Paul’s duties included serving as the Squadron First Sergeant and as Director of Operations. His military
decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with
three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal
with six oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, and the Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal. Brother Paul has remained active with the USAF Band program since his retirement, having performed
well over one hundred times as a contract musician/consultant and as the Recording Producer for two USAF Band CD
projects.
Brother Paul is married (since 1986) to the former Marta J. Palen of Port Edwards, Wisconsin, a retired public school
music teacher. They have two adult children, Alicia and Stephan. Brother Paul is also a native Wisconsinite, and he and
Marta are lifelong fans and Shareholders of the Green Bay Packers. They spend much of their leisure time training,
exhibiting, and breeding their AKC Champion Samoyeds (native Siberian sledding/ reindeer herding canines) under the
“Icebowl Samoyeds” kennel name. Brother Paul remains active as a professional trumpet player and enjoys performing
in local Big Bands, Salsa Bands, German Brass Bands, Church Brass groups, and he volunteers his talents while
performing with the Moolah Shrine Drum Corps. He also enjoys bowling, autocross racing, fantasy football, and
excursions in his motorhome, and he considers himself a connoisseur of fine Single Malt Scottish Whisky.
Additionally, Brother Paul serves (or has served) in leadership roles in the following other organizations:
− Member, Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders Board of Directors (2017 to 2022)
− Member (Honorary), DeMolay International Supreme Council (since 2023)
− Past Dean, St. Louis Preceptory – DeMolay Legion of Honor (Dean – 2017-18/ Director – 2018 to 2022)
− Member, Moolah Shrine Drum Corps (since 2015)/ Drum Major and 1st Vice President (since 2023)
− Member, Grand Center (St. Louis’ historic arts and cultural district) Board of Directors (2012 to 2021)
− Member of Executive Committee/ District Steering Committee/ District Land Use Committee
• Finance Officer/ Past Commander, Webster Groves (MO) Memorial Post #172, American Legion (since 2011)
− Member, Belle-City Kennel Club (Belleville, IL) Board of Directors/ Show Chairman (or Asst.) (since 2015)
− Member, Heart of America Samoyed Club (Kansas City, MO) Board of Directors (since 2015)
− President, Spirit of St. Louis Samoyed Club (2006 to 2012)