Palmetto York Rite College #70

An Honorary and Invitational Body Dedicated to service to the York Rite of Freemasonry.

South Carolina

About the

Palmetto York Rite College #70

The York Rite Sovereign College of North America exists primarily to be of service to the York Rite of Freemasonry. Constituent colleges must declare fealty to the Grand Lodge of their respective jurisdictions. The pre-requisite for membership, which is by invitation only, is good-standing in all four York Rite bodies: Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commander.

The first York Rite College was constituted on June 15, 1957 in the City of Jackson, Michigan. From here, the new organization spread rapidly from coast to coast and from north to south and by 1970 Colleges had been established in fourteen States and one Province of Canada.
Membership in a College is by invitation, and is restricted to those who hold membership in all of the other York Rite bodies. Since the primary object of every College is to foster a spirit of service and to promote and support the York Rite in every way possible, it is no surprise to find many of the leaders of the Craft numbered among its ranks. Here they find a common ground from which the can act for the welfare of all York Rite bodies without special favor to any. Colleges have been active in the organization of York Rite Festivals, degree teams, drill corps, and many other functions which serve to assist, coordinate, and unify the Rite.

(source: https://yrscna.org/about-yrsc/)

Under the jurisdiction of the

York Rite Sovereign College of North America

https://yrscna.org/

Meeting Time & Location

Annual Meeting
First Saturday in May at 1:30 PM
Luncheon at 12:30 PM

Fall Meeting
First Saturday in December at 1:30 PM
Luncheon at 12:30 PM
Associate Regents to meet following

Masonic Temple
1518 Hampton St, Columbia, SC

Dress Code

Dress: Tuxedo preferred

Contact info

Robert (Bob) J Bean
724 Kitty Ln
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: (843) 229-4710
E-mail: [email protected]

Officers

2026-2027

Preeminent Governor Michael J Broom OPC {2}
Eminent Deputy GovernorThomas (TJ) H Martin Jr {4}
Eminent ChancellorWilliam S Ghent {5}
Eminent TreasurerF Dean Tollison,  OPC, PG
Eminent SecretaryRobert “Bob” J. Bean, Sr., OPC, PG
Eminent PrimateWilliam Summerville {4}
Eminent PreceptorJohn R Bowker {2&4}
Eminent Seneschal Gary Sowell, OPC {5}
Eminent MarshallRobert M Saverance, OPC {6}
Eminent SentinelJeffrey Hall OPC {2}
Eminent HeraldA C Flora IV OPC {2}
Director of WorkJohn R Bowker
COMMITTEES
AuditNominating
Bobby J Fisher, ChairmanRobert “Bob” J Bean, Sr, PG,  Chairman
Jeffrey TompkinsDean Tollison, PG
Robert Saverance

Members

ASSOCIATE REGENTS
CLASSNAME
1982*J.D. Penley, Jr.
*Willard F. Bond, Jr.
1983*Andrew C. Grambling
1984*John B. Maxey
1985*George W. Romanstine
1986*John A. Dixon
*Cammie E, Murphy
*Jesse Branham
1987*Samuel H.J. Womack
#Sam L. Grant
1988*G. Ray Marsh
1989*Everette T. Deitz
*Alfred Alsbrook
1990*Raymond A. Wood
*William E. Fuller
1991Joseph L. McGee, Sr.
1992*R. Henry Brown
*Leroy W. Wells
*Grady L. Fincher
1993#J. Allen Prescott
*Robert D. Yonce
1994*James C. Dover
1995J. Gordon Cartrette
*Robert C. Hopple
*Vernon A. Amick
1996*J. Frank Gilliland
*Ford M. Thornton, Jr.
*T. Henry Waldrep {84}
1997Lee Roy Bruce
*Henry Gregory Hiers
1998D. Samuel Tennyson
*Clarence E. Longberry, Jr.
Robert J. Bean, Sr.
1999Larry S. Rhodes {84}
2000Rawl J. Scheibler
*William R. Logan
Gary B. Hinson
J. Sam Burton {84}
Norman Everett Wood
2001*J.C. “Mike” Hubbard, Jr.
Johnnie T. Morris
James D. Alewine {84}
2002*John T. Davis, Sr.
*John J. Hutton
*Martin Price
2004*Leland Aubrey Haynes, Sr.
Clarence Leroy “Roy” Alsbrooks
*Clarence Elton “Bud” Turner
2005Sidney Harold Gregory
*Lawrence E. Schoff
*Arthur C. Tracey
Howard T. Burgess {84}
2006Gerald L. Carver
*Wayne C. Smith, Jr.
Michael E. Copeland {84}
2011*Leroy J. Delionbach
*Charles E. Mackey
2012*Douglas L. Amyx
*Richard Wayne Sealy
2013Floyd W. Goff, Sr.
2014*O. Walter Sealy
Albert J. Wyatt
2015Robert J. Bean, Jr.
A. Glenn Greene, III
2017*John T. “Temp” Dickson
2018Gary C. Sowell
Zebulon V. Morgan, III
2019Dana P. Rickards
2021*Robert Lacer
F Dean Tollison
2022Michael W Kirk
2023Michael J Broom
2025Jeffrey L Hall
Robert M Saverance
2026Abram C Flora IV
{xx}Body received in, if not 70
*DECEASED
#WITHDREW

Degree Team(s)

CLASS NAME:Robert Lacer
OFFICEPRIMARYALTERNATEAlternate #2
First and Third Section
GovernorJoe TerryGary T JamesBob Bean
Deputy GovernorTommy Hayes
ChancellorTrae Mann
PrimateMartin TaylorJim Smith
PreceptorAndrew HermannBrian Armstrong
SeneschalRichard ValentineDean Tollison
MarshallBill Summerville
PrologueCharles VarnDana Rickards
LectureGary Sowell
Second Section
AthelstanIan Strickland
Prince EdwardJulian BevelAcy Flora
Lord Chancellor of The CourtCharles VarnJonathan Riddle
Lord Archbishop of EnglandRobert Saverance
Lord Preceptor of York UniversityJeff Hall
Lord Grand Commander of ChivalryMike KirkTommy Hayes
Lord Mayor of YorkJohn BowkerTommy Hayes
OverseersTJ Martin
Kenny Miles
Knight CommandersCharlie Raley
Ian Raley
HeraldMartin Taylor
The above is the assigned degree team for our Meeting on May 2, 2026.
If you cannot take part, please notify John Bowker at (803) 767-0932 ASAP.
If you are an alternate, we expect you to be there and prepared to do your part.
We are depending on you.
Please try to have your part memorized.

Past Governors

YEARNAME
1979*Wallace J. Knopp
1980*George W. Romanstine
1981*Willard Faroe Bond, Jr.
1982*John B. Maxey
1983*Andrew Copes Gramling, Jr.
1984*Samuel H.J. Womack
1985*James D. Penley, Jr.
1986*William E. Fuller, Jr.
1987*W. Jay Horne
1988*J.B. McGuirt
1989*John Alexander Dixon
1990*G. Ray Marsh
1991*Alfred Allsbrook
1992*R. Henry Brown
1993*Raymond A. Wood
1994Joseph L. McGee
1995J. Gordon Cartrette
1996*J. Frank Gilliland
1997*Ford M. Thornton
1998*Vernon A. Amick
1999*Neal H. Brown, Jr.
2000D. Samuel Tennyson
2001*Everette T. Deitz
2002Robert J. Bean, Sr.
2003Norman E. Wood
2004Johnnie T. Morris
2005Rawl J. Scheibler
2005*J.C. Hubbard, Jr.
2007Roy Alsbrooks, Jr.
2008Gary B. Hinson
2009*C. E. “Bud” Turner
2010*William R. “Bill” Logan
2011*Charles E. Mackey
2013Gerald L. “Jerry” Carver
2014*L. Aubrey Haynes
2015Lee Roy Bruce
2016S. Harold Gregory
2017Robert J. “Robby” Bean, Jr.
2018*Larry Dempsey
2019*Richard W Sealy
2020A Glenn Greene III
2021A Glenn Greene III
2022F Dean Tollison
2023Floyd W Goff
2024Dana P Rickards
2025Zebulon Morgan
2026Michael W Kirk
*Deceased

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