Personal:

Jack was born on December 14, 1949 to Dr. W.C. McConnell (32° and Shriner) and Mrs. Gladys M. (Behlmer) McConnell (OES Past Matron) in Batesville, Indiana. He was raised in Sunman, Indiana for 20 years. On March 23, 1971, Jack married Janis Marie Wood (of Campbellsburg, Indiana) in Biloxi, Mississippi. They are blessed with one child, Jamie Milea. Jamie, along her husband Oscar Angel (member of Tejon #104), reside in California and have presented Jack and Jan with three beautiful Grandchildren, (Anthony (13), Alexander (7), and Adam (almost 1)).

Masonic:

Jack was Initiated, Passed and Raised in Sunman Lodge No. 590, Sunman, Indiana while on leave from the Air Force on July 10, 14 and 15, 1975. He traveled to Japan on July 16, 1975 where he was stationed at Yokota AB from 1975 through 1978. While in Japan, he took a dimit from Sunman Lodge and joined Honshu Lodge No. 8, F. & A.M. of Japan and served that lodge as Worshipful Master in 1978.

In 1976, he joined the Scottish Rite, Tokyo Bodies, and the A.A.O.N.M.S. (Nile Temple) in 1977. In 1978, they returned to the United States where he was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force after eight years of active duty. In December 1994, Jack was elected to membership in Tejon Lodge #104. He served that lodge as Worshipful Master in 1998 during Tejon’s Centennial Year. He also served Tejon #104 as Secretary from 1999 to 2001. I addition, Jack served Memorial Lodge #2, of Colorado Springs, as Worshipful Master in 2000.

Jack transferred his Scottish rite membership to Southern Colorado Consistory in 1994. He served the Colorado Springs Scottish Rite Club as Secretary from 1994 until the Consistory moved to Colorado Springs in 1998. He also served on the committee to determine location for the Consistory and presented the demographic argument supporting the move. In May 1999, Jack presented an article entitled “Doers, Not Just Believers” to the Scottish Rite Journal which was published in the July 1999 issue.

In 1997, Jack received the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. In 2001, he was Coroneted a 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary. Jack has served on the executive committee of the Southern Colorado Consistory and has served on the screening committee of the Memorial Hospital Scottish Rite Foundation clinic for Childhood Language Disorders.

In the York Rite, Jack is a Member of Colorado Springs Chapter Number 6 Royal Arch Masons and is a past High Priest. He is a member and Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Zabud Council Number 8, Cryptic Masons, Colorado Springs Commandry number 6, KT, Gofannin Council of Allied Masonic Degrees in Colorado Springs and has served as Sovereign Master.

Jack is a member of the Kincora Council Knight Masons and the Sangre de Cristo Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine.

He is also a member of Al Kaly Shrine in Pueblo, Colorado.

In 2001, Jack was appointed to the Grand Lodge progressive line as Grand Marshal by MWB Ben Crossno. At the 147th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, he was elected and installed Grand Master of Masons for 2008. It is his sincere wish that everyone remember that it is far better to love than to hate and that our mission as members of the fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons is not to be better than others but to try to be better than ourselves.

Professional:

Jack graduated from Colorado Technical College with a BS in Electronic Engineering Technology and from Webster University with a Masters degree in Computer Resource Management, both with highest honors. He is currently President and sole proprietor of J.R. McConnell Consultant Services. He offers Communications and Network engineering design, implementation and maintenance service for several firms in Colorado Springs. Most of his work is defense related. He has previously worked as a defense contractor with both Computer Sciences Corporation (8 years) and Science Applications International Corporation (4 years). While attending Colorado Technical College, he worked at AMPEX as an Electronic Technician (3 years). Jack served honorably in the United States Air Force for 8 years and was stationed in Italy, Cheyenne Mountain and Japan.