More about the Grand Master of Iowa

"Donald E. Mosier, Grand Master 2007-2008"

Don was brought forth into the world on July 29, 1956, two month early, rear-end first, and weighing only about four pounds. Despite the best opinions, and possibly hopes, of the local doctors, and largely due to the insistent care of his parents and numerous Aunts, he thrived and grew beyond all expectations, and has maintained a somewhat unorthodox view of the world ever since. Following that inauspicious start in Huron SD, Don spent the majority of his young life in the area. His family moved to Wolsey, a rural town of 450 souls, when he was about three. There his father operated his own general repair shop, working on everything from lawn mowers to over-the-road trucks. Don attended Wolsey Public Schools from kindergarten through high school, except for two lengthy periods when his father worked as a welder on a traveling crew constructing oil and gas storage tanks for pipeline terminals. Fourth grade consisted of stints in Jamestown, ND; Pampa, TX; Lake Charles, LA; Artesia, NM, and a return to Lake Charles, LA. The second half of sixth grade found him again in Lake Charles, while the first half of seventh included enrollment in schools at Billings, MT; Minot, ND; and a second school in Billings. This exposure to differing cultures within the

USA

served to increase an interest in diverse and sundry topics, which still rears itself at unexpected moments. Countless hours spent working with his father in the family garage, effecting the repair of alternators and other electronic components, ignited Don’s latent interest in science, technology , and electronics. This interest directed Don to the SD School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, where he earned a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1978. Spurning several job offers which may have been more financially lucrative, Don chose to join Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, where he was allowed to create innovative designs for aircraft displays. He is now completing his 29^th year with Rockwell Collins. During that time he has been granted 19 patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office. Don currently works with a group of engineers and technicians who are developing color LCD flight displays for a variety of commercial and military aircraft manufacturers, with application in aircraft ranging from the Boeing 747-400 to the F-15. His work at Collins has provided a great opportunity for travel, both domestically and abroad, including numerous trips to

Japan

and

South Korea

, which excites a bit of envy from the remainder of his family, who think that business trips are fun.

A fateful decision to participate in a co-ed volleyball league during his first winter in Cedar Rapids, coupled with an uncooperative automobile, a helpful (?) team member, and a mutual love of good cooking, culminated in Don’s marriage to Carol Hunt on May 16, 1981, in Earlville, IA. Prior to her employment at Rockwell, Carol grew up on a family farm near Earlville, attended Earlville Elementary School and Maquoketa Valley Middle and High Schools in Delhi, and, in 1976, earned a BA in Elementary Education from UNI. Carol currently works as an administrative assistant at Clifton Gunderson, an accounting firm in Cedar Rapids. Carol also served as Don’s introduction to Freemasonry. Carol’s parents were very active in Eastern Star, and the first Masonic function Don attended was his mother in-law’s installation as Grand Organist of that organization in the fall of 1985. Despite that, Don became more interested in the fraternity. Carol asked one of her Eastern Star brethren to get him a petition, and the rest is history. As partial payment, Don served as Worthy Patron of Malta Chapter in 1996, the same year Carol was Worthy Matron. Of course, Carol chose to hold that position the same year one of the members of their Chapter was installed as Worthy Grand Matron, which meant Don was allowed to demonstrate his first time grasp of the OES initiation ritual in front of more than 200 people, most of whom had learned the ritual before he was born.

Don and Carol were blessed with their first daughter, Carissa, on July 2, 1984. Their second daughter, Danielle, arrived two years later on July 14, 1986. Cari is a recent graduate of Iowa State University, with a major in biology. She currently lives in Ames with her husband Lucas, who is completing his studies at ISU. Dani lives in Cedar Rapids. She manages a fast-food restaurant in Hiawatha, and has recently returned to school, pursuing a degree in bookkeeping at Kirkwood Community College.

Don and Carol both enjoy reading (Carol insists that Don does this to the exclusion of everything else.) and listening to music (They don’t always agree on the music.). They would like to travel more, but other activities always seem to intrude. Don has a couple dormant hobbies, including wood working and photography. He claims to still enjoy the hobby of brewing beer, but again, time seems to allow very little practice. They share their home with Beowulf, an energetic and friendly 100 pound Rottweiler, and two cats, Simba and Sauron.