M.W. Donald G. Hicks, Past Grand Master, 1940-2025
M.W. Donald Gardner Hicks Jr, the 84th Grand Master in Massachusetts (2002-2004), passed to the Celestial Lodge above on April 15, 2025. He was 84.
Don was born on December 12, 1940 , the son of Bro. Donald G. and Mary S. (Gillespie) Hicks. He was born and raised in Lowell and educated in the Lowell Public School system, graduating from Lowell High School in 1958. He served as Master Councilor of Lowell Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in 1960.
He married former Rainbow girl, Nancy P. Sargent, also of Lowell. They were married for 62 years and made their home in Leominster for more than 50 years. Don leaves his daughter, Karen L. Thorne, wife of Wor. Grant L. Thorne (Wamesit Lodge, Tewksbury), and his son, Bro. Andrew G. Hicks and his wife Patricia (Kane); a grandson, Wor. Brandon L Thorne (Wamesit Lodge) and his wife Meredith (Carr); two granddaughters, Emily Thorne and Megan Hicks, and a great-grandson, Aiden Thoren. He also leaves his brother, Wor. David H. Hicks (Wamesit Lodge) and his wife Susan (Penney); a brother-in-law Paul Sargent and his partner Sandra Bogan, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his adopted brother, Arthur Iverson.
Brother Hicks was raised Wamesit Lodge, Tewksbury, in 1962. He served as Master in 1970 and 1971, and again in 2000 and 2012. He also belonged to The DeMolay Lodge, Boston; Norfolk Lodge, Needham; The Masters Lodge, Needham; Columbian Lodge, Boston; Social Harmony Lodge, Wareham; William Parkman Lodge, Woburn; Saint John’s Lodge, Boston; and Merrimack Valley Daylight Lodge, Tewksbury. He was also an honorary member of Thomas Talbot Lodge, Tewksbury; Mount Holyoke Lodge, South Hadley; The Harvard Lodge, Boston; Wilder Lodge, Leominster; Major General Henry Knox Lodge, Boston; The Henry Price Lodge, Boston. He also belonged to Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, Alexandria, VA and was an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of Iran (In Exile).
In 1987, M.W. Albert T. Ames appointed Brother Hicks Deputy Grand Master. On February 7, 1987 he received the Henry Price Medal. That same year he was appointed Grand Representative of Oklahoma, a position he held until 2009, when he was named Grand Representative of Scotland.
On December 27, 2001, Brother Hicks was installed Grand Master of Masons of Massachusetts.
He was a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Lowell, and Massachusetts Consistory, Valley of Boston. He was Sovereign Prince, Lowell Council, Princes of Jerusalem, and served as the Valley’s Treasurer for 10 years. He received the 33rd degree in Cleveland in 1980. He served the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction as Grand Senechal between 1987 and 1990. He became an Active Member for Massachusetts in 1990 and served as Deputy between 2005 and 2012 (the Deputy is the Executive Officer for the state), and an Emeritus member in 2015.
In York Rite, he was Received in Thomas Royal Arch Chapter, Fitchburg; Greeted in Harris Council of Royal and Select Master Masons, Fitchburg; and Knighted in Jerusalem Commandery No. 19 Knights Templar, Fitchburg. He also belonged to Saint Bernard Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar, Boston, and Bay State Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, where he served as Puissant Sovereign from 2017-2019. He was an honorary member of Saint Paul’s Royal Arch Chapter, Boston, and Massachusetts Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters, Boston. He received the Paul Revere Medal, the highest honor presented by the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, and the Abraham Dame Medal, the highest honor presented by the Grand Council of Royal and Select Master Masons. He was also a recipient of the Order of the Purple Cross from the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.
