Biography
Charles Jackson Meek
02/ 06/16 - Born in Lorain,Ohio of Dr.Charles R. Meek & Nettie E Waychoff Meek
1924 - Started violin lessons with teacher Yanula Canalos
1929/33 - Student teacher of High School Acappella Choir, Band and Orchestra during Junior and Senior years. Was baritone soloist in choir, played violin and viola in orchestra and baritone horn in the band. Was Drum Major for two years and sang Pirate King’s part in “Pirates of Penzance”. Was Chief of Advertising for High School Annual for two years. Graduated in 1933 a member of the National Honor Society and listed on the Service Plaque.
1929/33 - Youngest member of the Lorain County Symphony Orchestra, violinist.
1932 - Placed first in the Ohio State Viola Contest. Won second place in the National Contest.
1932/33 - Director of 18 member Charles Meek’s Dance Orchestra, designated as Lorain’s Elk’s official Dance Orchestra. The largest Orchestra in Lorain County, many engagements.
1932/37 - member of the Order of DeMolay.
1933/38 - Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio. Received a four year full tuition scholarship. Graduated with an AB degree “Cum Lauda” and a Bachelor of Music Degree with election to the National Music Fraternity, Pi Kappa Lamda. Major in Social Science and Composition, minor in Violin and Music Education.
1937 - Assistant manager of the boys camp division at Interlochen, Michigan, National Music Camp. Met Dorothy Emma Pfingstag, counselor of the girls camp. We were married on June 15, 1939. Initiated into Lorain Lodge #552,
F.& A.M. as a Master Mason.
1936/38 - Director of the Evangelical and Reformed Church Choir, Amherst, Ohio.
1938/39 - Director of Instrumental Music, Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, GA.
1940/41 - Founder of the Music Department and Director of Instrumental Music, Shurtleff College, Alton, Illinois. Founder and Director of the Madison County Symphony Orchestra, and Director of the Baptist Church Choir which sang in early morning, and Director of the Episcopal Church Choir which service was late morning.
1941/43 - Taught Conducting, Terminology of Music, Orchestration, Wind Instrument Classes, and in charge of School Music Library at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, department of Music Education.
1943/45 - Navy certified welder, American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio which built Mine Sweepers and Corvets. Had worked during college years as an Accountant during the summers.
1945/64 - Industrial Engineer at U.S. Steel National Tube Company, Lorain.
1946/60 - Director of Evangelical and Reformed Church Choir, Amherst, Ohio.
1947/52 - Director of the Saxon Club Choir, Lorain.
1948/53 - Director of SPEBSQSA Chorus of 90 singers, Lorain.
1955/56 - High Priest Mystic Chapter Royal Arch Masons #170, Lorain. Commander of Knights Templar, Lorain Commandery #65.
1955 - Received the Order of High Priesthood and Knight Commander of the Temple Degrees.
1955/64 - Chairman of DeMolay Council, Lorain, Ohio. (1957) - Elected to Active DeMolay Legion of Honor.
1958/64 - Scottish Rite, Cleveland, Ohio - played in six degrees, including Adoniram in the 24th degree, Constans in the 32nd degree and Orator in the Chapter of Rose Croix.
1960/61 - Governor of Cleveland York Rite College and election to the Knight of the Purple Cross of York.
1963/64 - Illustrious Master Lorain Council of Royal and Select Masters #703.
1964/78 - Taken to U.S. Steel General Office in Pittsburgh, PA., Department of Industrial Engineering. Moved to Mt. Lebanon, PA.
1965/67 - Dad Advisor, South Hills Chapter Order of DeMolay, Dormont, PA.
1966/67 - Dorothy served as Supreme President of the Supreme Assembly, Social Order of the Beauceant, the ladies of the Knights Templar.
1966/78 - Director of Men’s Chorus, Mt. Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Mt. Lebanon, PA.
1968/69 - President Syria Temple Shrine Luncheon Club, Pittsburgh, PA. DeMolay Deputy, Pittsburgh Chapters. Charter Life Member of the DeMolay Alumni Association.
1969/78 - Regional Deputy, (Governor) South Western Pennsylvania, 18 DeMolay Chapters.
1976/77 - Master, John A., Brashear Lodge, G.&A.M., Dormont, PA. Elected to Knights of the York Cross of Honor.
1978 - Received the DeMolay Award, Guild of the Leathern Apron, Advisor of the year for PA. Retired to Green Valley, Arizona. At first a Townhouse in Casa Palona 1, then moved to 111 Los Mangos in Fairways 3, with 3 bedrooms, 600 sq.ft. recreation room, etc
1979/81 - Traveled to Europe with the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the USA. DeMolay Deputy, Southern Arizona Chapters.
1980/83 - Director of Lonesome Cowboys Men’s Chorus, Green Valley, AZ. Elected to Knights of the Royal Order of Scotland.
1985/87 - Founder and first President of the Green Valley Chapter Sons of the American Revolution. Wrote “Conducting Made Easy” for Directors of Amateur Musical Organizations, published by Scarecrow Press, New Jersey. Elected to the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine.
1987/94 - Founder and first Director of the Green Valley Concert Band. Continued as Tuba player.
1987/94 - Dorothy and I play Baritone Horn with Beaver’s Tucson Concert Band. Traveled to Europe with the band in 1990.
1988 - Made a Colonel in Company C of the Bristol Rhode Island Train of Artillery Militia.
1989 /90 - Joined Sabbar Shrine Temple Band, playing Tuba until the present time (1996). Elected Arizona State President, Sons of the American Revolution.
1992 - Received the Samsar Award for outstanding service to Sabbar Temple Shrine, Tucson, AZ.
1993/94 - Elected to Allied Masonic Degrees, and made a Knight of the Red Branch of Erin. President of Acacia Hi 12 Club, masonic club meeting at noon for lunches.
1994/95 - President of Southern Arizona Chapter #237, National Sojourners. Elected to Fort Lowell Camp of the
“Heroes of ‘76”.
1995/96 - Elected Commander of Fort Lowell Camp, Heroes of ‘76. Also elected a “Camel Herder” in the First Camel Corps of the National Sojourners. Elected Tyler of Allied Masonic Degrees. Elected Standard Bearer, Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine.