STEVEN JOHN KREKUS

GRAND MASTER

2003

Steven John Krekus is an architect with national credentials, a community leader and prominent Freemason. The Cleveland native has worked on the design of an electron beam accelerator building, rocket engine and nuclear testing facilities, rubber compounding facilities, football stadiums, shopping malls, restaurants and Masonic facilities.

The son of the late Steve and Ella Krekus, themselves active members of the Masonic family, Steven graduated from Charles F. Brush High School and Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in Architecture. Steve is married to the former Carol Ann Osborn, herself an active member of several Masonic organizations. They are residents of Aurora, Ohio, and are members of a United Church of Christ. The couple has two children, Steven Paul of Twinsburg, a graduate of Akron University and Cathy Ann Kern of Columbus, a graduate of Capital University.

Steven Paul is a Past State Scribe of the Order of DeMolay and a member of George A. Holly Lodge and the Valley of Cleveland, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is the father of two children. Stacy is a senior at Twinsburg High School and a member of the show choir and chorus. She is Past Honored Queen of Jobs Daughters Bethel No. 76 in Cuyahoga Falls. Steven B. is a sophomore at Twinsburg High School and plays on the school soccer team. He is a member of Selynma Chapter, Order of DeMolay.

Cathy is a Past Grand Soloist of the Order of Rainbow for Girls. She is the mother of Kimberly, a sophomore at Columbus State and a member of Columbus Rainbow Assembly. Cathy's son Matthew is a senior at Westerville South High School and a member of Linden Chapter Order of DeMolay.

The senior Steve has worked on the design of a building to house an electron beam accelerator that changes the molecular structure of materials. Seven-foot thick concrete walls enclose the 32' by 32' foot vault around the machine. The 20,000 square foot building, a joint project between Kent State University and Mercury Plastics, became operational in June 2000. He was also involved in the design of a NASA engine testing facility, a nuclear reactor building for Union Carbide, stationary and mobile hospital/medical facilities for body and brain CAT scanners for Ohio Nuclear, RFK Stadium, and the Bowling Green State University Stadium. Diners across the nation eat in restaurants designed by Steve, including TGI Fridays, Dalts, Uno's, Boston Market, Max and Erma's and Italianni's. He has worked on enclosed shopping malls from Bloomington, IN to Fort Collins, CO.

In the community, Steve recently served as chairman of the City of Aurora Planning Commission. While living in Richmond Heights, Ohio, he served as a member of the Recreation Board, was the first Chairman of the Architectural Review Board, and following election to the Board of Education, served as its President. He is a former member of the Cuyahoga County Airport Architectural Review Board. In 1976, he was a nominee for the Applause Award program as one of the outstanding people of Greater Cleveland. Steve is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Kentucky Colonel and a Territorial Marshal of the Territory of Oklahoma.

In business Steve has been in building design and construction since 1956. He is president of Krekus Architect, Inc. an architectural firm and president of Kai Corporation, a construction management and development company. He previously was with TGI Friday's, Inc. in Dallas, Texas, a world wide casual dining restaurant company where he was Vice President of Architecture and Construction and was responsible for the design and construction of over 40 new restaurants. He presently is still designing TGI Friday's, as well as other restaurants, commercial and manufacturing facilities. Steve is the holder of the National Council of Architectural Review Boards Certificate and is a registered architect in several states throughout the country. He is a member of the International Code Council, and a former instructor of architectural design and graphics at Lakeland Community College in Mentor, Ohio.

Steve was initiated into Selynma Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Lyndhurst, Ohio in 1951. He served as Master Councilor in 1953 and was granted the Representative DeMolay Award (the Chapter's first), the Chevalier Degree and the Blue Honor Key. He was a Second District Officer and a State Representative.

After College he returned to be an Advisor with Willoughby Chapter and then Chapter Advisor of Selynma Chapter, before being appointed a Second District Deputy in 1963. In 1971 he became Governor of the Second District and held that position until 1975. On the State level in Ohio, Steve served several years as State Membership Director and three years as State Advisory Council Chairman, He has participated on the staff of several International Supreme Council Leadership Conferences. He has been awarded the Active Legion of Honor, Medal of Appreciation, and Cross of Honor.

In the Spring of 1983 he was elected an Active Member of the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay. He served as Director of Ohio's State Officers for 20 years. From 1995-99 he served as Executive Offtcer of Ohio DeMolay and was elected to two terms as Region 4 Representative on DeMolay International's Board of Directors. While living in Texas he served as Membership Director and was on the Executive Officer's Advisory staff. In addition to DeMolay, Steve has served as a Rainbow Advisor and has been awarded the Rainbow Grand Cross of Color. Carol is a Past Worthy Advisor of Heights Assembly and Past Mother Advisor of two Assemblies and is a Past Secretary of Willoughby, Order of the Eastern Star. She is also a Past President of the Richmond Heights Garden Club and the Richmond Heights Parent Teachers Association.

The Most Worshipful Brother Krekus is a member of George A. Holly Lodge #745 in Painesville, Ohio, and he served as Master in 1972. Steve is an Honorary Member of five Ohio Lodges and a member of Tranquility Lodge # 2000 in Texas. He is a member of Mount Olive Chapter #189 R.A.M.; Painesville Council #104 R. & S.M.; Eagle Commandery #29 K.T.; the Royal Order of Scotland; Hi Point Council No. 120 of the Allied Masonic Degrees, where he served as Sovereign Master for 1992; the Philaletethes Society; Senior DeMolay Mark Master Lodge No. 2; Al Koran Shrine and Willoughby Chapter O.E.S.

He was appointed a District Deputy Grand Master of the 25th Masonic District in 1975 and served until October 1978. He presently serves as the Chairman of the Grand Lodge Temple Committee. He has been a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Cleveland since 1965 and served as Most Wise Master of Ariel Chapter Rose Croix in 1979-81. He received the 33° in 1980. Steve was a Scottish Rite representative on the Ohio Masonic Home Board of Trustees for 3 years. He served the Valley of Cleveland for many years as Chairman of the Class Directors and is a Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Valley of Fort Worth in Texas. In October of 1996, Grand Master Thomas H. Galyen appointed Steve to serve the Grand Lodge of Ohio as Junior Grand Deacon and he progressed through the officer's line to his current position of Grand Master.