What others say about Howie

Over the course of the past year, we have been blessed to have established a very close relationship with Bro Howie Damron - the former Nashville recording artist who is sweeping the fraternity with his songs about family values, Masonry and life in America.

As an officer of the LOP of the So Bend Valley and a member of the Board of Governor's for the So Bend Learning Center,
I have had the pleasure to accompany Howie to several of his performances, including the Annual Communication of the Indiana Grand Lodge in May of this year. I can tell you from personal experience.....those that are afforded the opportunity to hear Howie in person and enjoy his stories, messages, and wholesome entertainment ( including the classic masonic songs "The Masonic Ring" and "Hiram's Call") walk away enriched, refreshed and "Proud to be a Freemason".

Sincerely and fraternally,

Richard Hess Jr PM
SW - LOP -So Bend Valley AASR
Board of Governor's - 32 Degree Learning Center for Children, Inc - So Bend, IN

Brother Howie,

I wanted to take the time to drop you a line to thank you for a couple of things.

1) Thank you for taking the time to take some pictures with my wife Beth during your recent visit to our Scottish Rite Valley in South Bend. She and I have become big fans, and you made her day.
2) Thanks for working with Brother Hess to make this concert to benefit our Learning Center a reality. The area is buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the event.
3) Thanks for turning us all on to Bighorn Outdoors. It is refreshing to see a program that is not all spit-polished and gives more of a representation of what it is like when my buddies and I go out hunting.
4) Thanks for the work you do with getting youth involved in the outdoors. As a volunteer police officer, I can tell you first hand that the troubled kids I run into have spent little time in the outdoors fishing, hunting, or just camping. Kids who are taught to respect the environment, hunting and fishing regulations and their elders are seldom in trouble. The common denominator is having an adult in their life to serve as a role model and to teach them respect for all things including themselves.
5) Thanks for coming up to our Grand Lodge and performing and speaking to the rest of the Brethren there. I also thank you for taking the time to speak with me. It was not only the highlight of the week, but it was probably the highlight of the last 20 years. You will never know how many “batteries” you recharged by coming up here and doing what you do.
6) Most of all thanks for all of the work you do representing our Great Fraternity. Freemasonry was in dire need of an ambassador, and you fill those shoes perfectly. I know you would only accept credit reluctantly, but even those other famous Brothers in the spotlight seem hesitant to wear their association with our craft out in the open. I for one am very glad that you wear your Masonic Pride on your shirtsleeves.

Brother, you represent all that is good within a Freemason. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I look forward to seeing you again sometime soon. Remember, we will be in the heart of archery deer season, and gun and archery turkey season when you some up in October. Come a few days early and we will get you on some. I am sure they are not the unparalleled quality of animals as found in your native Ohio, but we may be able to scrape up a keeper or two. J

Sincerely and Fraternally

Kent D. Hizer P.M.
Deputy Master
South Bend Lodge of Perfection
Scottish Rite Valley of South Bend

Howie,
I did not have time to tell you all about the positive impact of your visit to the DeMolay Conclave in West Virginia. You gave everyone a real boost with your message and your performance. Everyone who bought a CD is eagerly awaiting the email that has your new song, I’m Living DeMolay. God bless you for using your God-given talent to help kids.

Keep up the good work.
Frank Joseph Haas

This letter is written in support and recommendation of Howie Damron as an entertainer and as a bearer of a Masonic message.  I had the good fortune of hearing Howie perform at several different Annual Communications.  Being impressed with the quality and nature of his performance, I asked him to perform at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Wisconsin.  Howie performed several selections during a break in the general session and provided a more extensive performance in the evening for the Distinguished Guests’ Banquet.  His message and performance on both occasions was “top notch!”  Some particular observations about his performance, I note below.

Bringing a quality performance with a Masonic message to a Masonic audience, he quickly established rapport with them, relating to Masons and non-Masons alike, including the ladies.  Howie drew upon his own experiences in Freemasonry to give particular meaning to the ritual and the feelings often experienced by individuals at those times.  This was particularly true in his song, “the Masonic Ring.”  As he talked of Masonry in general, he spoke specifically of his own personal experiences and of things he was seeing on the cutting edge of what is happening today.  He especially mentioned the sponsorship of the NASCAR race car by the Scottish Rite.  This will expose Scottish Rite, and Freemasonry, to many more people in a different light than is normally pictured.

In conclusion, I would like to note that Howie brings both a musical message and a Masonic message to his performance.  It was an evening enjoyed and appreciated by those present.  The appeal and sincerity of his performance was reflected by the numbers of individuals who came to the stage to purchase his CD after the performance.  As fast as I could take the money, the people were there to take home a record of that performance so the experience could linger on.

Fraternally and sincerely,
Rodney A. Paulsen, PGM

Brother Howie Damron,

Thank you for the phone call today. 

After reading about your CD, “Hiram’s Call”, in the Scottish Rite Journal I decided to order one from you.  I have received it and certainly enjoy listening to it.  Your words do provoke us to think about our wonderful Craft.  I will share it with my Brothers in Washington and encourage them to get their own copy.

I was treated to your singing at the Scottish Rite meeting in San Francisco last year and enjoyed “The Masonic Ring” a great deal.  It was so inspiring that I used it as a retiring march following the installation of the Grand Lodge Officers at our Annual Communication in June 2006.

I hope to see you in the future.

Fraternally,
MW Charles W. McQuery
Grand Master

Dear Howie ,

 I just wanted to let you know that after we were introduced the other day in Mississippi a lot of things have happened in my life. I really enjoyed our visit; it meant the world to me. I got one of your C.D 's and listened to it all the way home, and several  more times over the next few days. On the front of the cover was an emblem that I had seen as a child. My Dad wore a ring with an emblem like that, that brought back old memories. I ask my Dad to tell me about that ring and he said one day you will know all about this ring. We never had the chance to have that conversation.  My Dad was a good man, he thought of others before he thought of his self. As I was growing up I thought people were taking advantage of my Dad. Later on after he had passed away, people would come by and tell me things that my Dad had done for them that we new nothing about. I think this is the way I will find out about my Dad and the Ring. The name of the C.D. was HIRAM'S CALL it seems like every song was just for me. When I opened the cover of the C.D. on the left side was a form that said if you are interested in becoming a Mason fill this out and send it in. Howie guess what I did?  I mailed the form...

Thank You so Much,
George Bruce
National Marketing Director /  Winadeer, Inc.