Anson Jones Award
Fort Worth Scottish Rite
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
| Stated Meetings - Third Thursday |
| The Fort Worth Scottish Rite Foundation held it's Grand Annual Banquet on June 5, 2010 The Anson Jones Award was presented to Dr. Michael L. Wiggins and presented $41,000 in Scholarships to graduating seniors. |
Dr. Michael L. Wiggins
Is a Senior Vice President at William M. Cobb & Associates, Inc., an international oil and gas consulting firm located in
Dallas. Before joining Cobb & Associates in 2006, he was a professor of petroleum and geological engineering at the
University of Oklahoma, serving on the faculty for fifteen years. Wiggins holds bachelor, masters, and doctoral
degrees in petroleum engineering from Texas A & M University.
Over the years Dr. Wiggins has been active in the community. He has served as an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of
America, provided leadership to trek contingents at Philmont Scout Ranch, and completed the Wood Badge training
program. He has served as a youth sports coach, volunteered with his family in the Meals on Wheels program, and
has been an adult Bible class teacher in his church.
Dr. Wiggins joined the Masonic fraternity in Liberty Lodge #48 while he was an undergraduate student at Texas A & M.
He served his lodge as Worshipful Master during 1984-1985 and was awarded the Golden Trowel by the lodge in
2007. He is Past Master and Fellow of Texas Lodge of Research.
He served the Grand Master of Texas as District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District #107 in 1987 for then Grand
Master John E. “Jack” Kelly. In 2005, he was appointed Grand Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge. Wiggins was also
appointed to a seven year term on the Committee on Masonic Purposes and Policies in 2007. He received the John
Sayles Medal in 2004 and the Grand Master’s Cup in 2007, both for exceptional service to the Grand Lodge of Texas.
Wiggins is a member of the Houston, Guthrie, and Dallas Rite Bodies. He is the Venerable Master of the Dallas Lodge
of Perfection and president of the Guthrie Scottish Rite Educational and Charitable Foundation. He received the
honorary 33º of the Scottish Rite in Dallas.
He is married to Tanya Steed of Liberty. They currently reside in Dallas and have two children.
ANSON JONES AWARD RECIPIENTS
1985 Ardell M. Young *
1986 Dr. Abner V. McCall *
1987 Harvey C. Byrd *
1988 J. W. Chandler *
1989 Dr. Wendell H. Nedderman
1990 Dr. Lucius Waites
1990 Harold Taft *
1992 Herbert L. Arnold*
1993 Tommy Vandergriff
1994 Jack E. Hightower
1995 Sam E. Hilburn*
1996 Robert Bolen
1997 Robert R. (Bobby) Bragan
1998 Robert D. (Bob) Bullock *
1999 Dr. John A. (Tony) Herring
2000 Dr. James W. Roach, III
2001 James C. Wright, Jr.
2002 Doyle H. Willis *
2003 Johnnie High
2004 Clyde E. Whiteside
2005 H. Ross Perot
2006 Robert J. Glasgow
2007 Lyndon L. Olson, Jr.
2008 Warren D. Chisum
2009 Dr. Carol A. Wise
* deceased
THE ANSON JONES AWARD
GIVEN IN HONOR OF ANSON JONES
* Last President of the Republic of Texas
* Projector and Consummator of Texas Annexation to the United States
* First Grand Master of Masons of Texas and Implanter of Ancient Masonry in Texas
* The Revered of Senates
* And The Light of Cabinets
With Intent and Purpose primarily that of recognizing community service, the Fort Worth Scottish Rite Foundation
created the annual Anson Jones Award, designed to honor persons who have demonstrated great social
consciousness.
Though fraternal in origin, it is civil in application. Each year, one or more persons (not necessarily from the Masonic
Fraternity) are chosen in light of humanitarian endeavors and applauded for outstanding citizenship.
The Anson Jones Award, named after the last President of the Republic of Texas, who was a Mason and a civic
benefactor of renown, finds its philosophy in his words of concern for Texas:
“We have endeavored to respond to this call by the formation of this society, with the hope that if not to us, to our sons
and successors, it may be given to make the star. The single star of the west as resplendent for all the acts that adorn
civilized life; Texas has her captains-let her have her wise men.”
The criteria of such an award of achievement can be traced to the closing remarks of Anson Jones as President of the
Republic when the final act of the great dramas was performed…The Republic of Texas became a state of the United
States of America when he stated:
“The lone star of Texas…..following an inscrutable destiny has passed on and become fixed forever in that glorious
constellation which all freemen and lovers of freedom in the world reverence and adore......The American Union.”
Is a Senior Vice President at William M. Cobb & Associates, Inc., an international oil and gas consulting firm located in
Dallas. Before joining Cobb & Associates in 2006, he was a professor of petroleum and geological engineering at the
University of Oklahoma, serving on the faculty for fifteen years. Wiggins holds bachelor, masters, and doctoral
degrees in petroleum engineering from Texas A & M University.
Over the years Dr. Wiggins has been active in the community. He has served as an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of
America, provided leadership to trek contingents at Philmont Scout Ranch, and completed the Wood Badge training
program. He has served as a youth sports coach, volunteered with his family in the Meals on Wheels program, and
has been an adult Bible class teacher in his church.
Dr. Wiggins joined the Masonic fraternity in Liberty Lodge #48 while he was an undergraduate student at Texas A & M.
He served his lodge as Worshipful Master during 1984-1985 and was awarded the Golden Trowel by the lodge in
2007. He is Past Master and Fellow of Texas Lodge of Research.
He served the Grand Master of Texas as District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District #107 in 1987 for then Grand
Master John E. “Jack” Kelly. In 2005, he was appointed Grand Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge. Wiggins was also
appointed to a seven year term on the Committee on Masonic Purposes and Policies in 2007. He received the John
Sayles Medal in 2004 and the Grand Master’s Cup in 2007, both for exceptional service to the Grand Lodge of Texas.
Wiggins is a member of the Houston, Guthrie, and Dallas Rite Bodies. He is the Venerable Master of the Dallas Lodge
of Perfection and president of the Guthrie Scottish Rite Educational and Charitable Foundation. He received the
honorary 33º of the Scottish Rite in Dallas.
He is married to Tanya Steed of Liberty. They currently reside in Dallas and have two children.
ANSON JONES AWARD RECIPIENTS
1985 Ardell M. Young *
1986 Dr. Abner V. McCall *
1987 Harvey C. Byrd *
1988 J. W. Chandler *
1989 Dr. Wendell H. Nedderman
1990 Dr. Lucius Waites
1990 Harold Taft *
1992 Herbert L. Arnold*
1993 Tommy Vandergriff
1994 Jack E. Hightower
1995 Sam E. Hilburn*
1996 Robert Bolen
1997 Robert R. (Bobby) Bragan
1998 Robert D. (Bob) Bullock *
1999 Dr. John A. (Tony) Herring
2000 Dr. James W. Roach, III
2001 James C. Wright, Jr.
2002 Doyle H. Willis *
2003 Johnnie High
2004 Clyde E. Whiteside
2005 H. Ross Perot
2006 Robert J. Glasgow
2007 Lyndon L. Olson, Jr.
2008 Warren D. Chisum
2009 Dr. Carol A. Wise
* deceased
THE ANSON JONES AWARD
GIVEN IN HONOR OF ANSON JONES
* Last President of the Republic of Texas
* Projector and Consummator of Texas Annexation to the United States
* First Grand Master of Masons of Texas and Implanter of Ancient Masonry in Texas
* The Revered of Senates
* And The Light of Cabinets
With Intent and Purpose primarily that of recognizing community service, the Fort Worth Scottish Rite Foundation
created the annual Anson Jones Award, designed to honor persons who have demonstrated great social
consciousness.
Though fraternal in origin, it is civil in application. Each year, one or more persons (not necessarily from the Masonic
Fraternity) are chosen in light of humanitarian endeavors and applauded for outstanding citizenship.
The Anson Jones Award, named after the last President of the Republic of Texas, who was a Mason and a civic
benefactor of renown, finds its philosophy in his words of concern for Texas:
“We have endeavored to respond to this call by the formation of this society, with the hope that if not to us, to our sons
and successors, it may be given to make the star. The single star of the west as resplendent for all the acts that adorn
civilized life; Texas has her captains-let her have her wise men.”
The criteria of such an award of achievement can be traced to the closing remarks of Anson Jones as President of the
Republic when the final act of the great dramas was performed…The Republic of Texas became a state of the United
States of America when he stated:
“The lone star of Texas…..following an inscrutable destiny has passed on and become fixed forever in that glorious
constellation which all freemen and lovers of freedom in the world reverence and adore......The American Union.”
| Anson Jones Award 2010 |
