Photo courtesy of VA Masons
The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia has elected Gary Dwight Huffman of Roanoke to serve as its 179th Grand Master for 2024-2025.
Huffman graduated from Northside High School in 1982 and attended Virginia Western Community College and Radford University to pursue a degree in Business Administration. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md., and holds accreditation from the Professional Career Development Institute of Atlanta, Ga.
In July 1986, he began his career with the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department, where he worked his way through the ranks and served in the position of Fire Marshal for 10 years prior to his retirement on June 1, 2014. During his Fire Services career, he attended the Law Enforcement Academy through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and served two terms as President of the Virginia Fire Prevention Association.
Huffman was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on June 21, 1999, in Vinton Lodge No. 204, where he served as its Worshipful Master in 2015. He is now a member of Lakeland Lodge No. 190, as a result of a consolidation with the Vinton Lodge in 2022. He is also a member of Boone Lodge No. 247. He was Grand Purveyor in 2011, Grand Tiler in 2015, and Administrative Assistant to the Grand Master in 2018, and was elected to the Office of Grand Junior Deacon in 2018.
In his professional life, he held membership on the Code Development Committee of the International Fire Chiefs Association and twice received the Governor’s Award for Fire Service Excellence. In addition, the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department twice recognized him with the “Firefighter of the Year Award.” Other commendations and awards were the Fire Safety Commendation Award from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and a Fire Service Award from the local Jaycees Chapter.
Huffman is married to the former Paula Ann Compton of Botetourt County. They have two children, daughter Jordon Huffman Cox, a graduate of Roanoke College who teaches in the Roanoke City School System; son Mason Cole Huffman, a graduate of Liberty University, where he is employed and pursuing a master’s degree; and three grandchildren.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
