RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GARDNER M. TORRENCE, SR.

Right Worshipful (R.W.) Gardner M. Torrence was the second of five (5) children born to James and Mildred Torrence in Belle Glade, Florida July 30, 1963.  After graduating from Glades Central High School in June 1981, he went off to Electronic Engineering School and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electronic Engineering.  He then went to college at Florida International University in Miami, FL on a basketball scholarship.  After two years of studies, he joined the United States Air Force on 3 January 1985.  After serving over 22 years of Active Duty service for the United States Air Force, he retired on 1 December 2007.   

R.W. Torrence began his Masonic Career in February 1994 where he was Initiated, Passed and Raised to a Sublime Degree Master Mason in Cherry Blossom Lodge No. 42, Yokota Air Base, Tokyo Japan.  In May 1994 after being Raised, RW Torrence was appointed Assistant Secretary and subsequently elected Secretary, Junior Warden, Senior Warden and Worshipful Master.

Continuing his Masonic career in Washington Jurisdiction, he served as Asst. District Deputy Grand Master of District #6, which comprise five lodges (Cherry Blossom #42, O’Misawa #54, Pride of Orient #55, Genesis #89, and Revelation #97) on Mainland Japan; District Deputy Grand Master for District #7 which consist of Torii #46 and Okinawa Military #68 (Okinawa, Japan) and District #10 located in the Republic of Korea, which consist of Sprig of Acacia #93, Lion of Judah #94, Guiding Light #95, II Corinthians #96 and then Tri-Step #99. 

R.W. Torrence has served in the capacity of Special District Deputy Grand Master as Chief Editor for Grand Lodge Washington Community Monitor and Web Administrator for the Grand Lodge official website.  He has also served as Vice Chair of the Grievance and Appeals Committee, Vice Chair on Report on Grand Masters Annual Address, Vice Chair of Election Judges and member of the Grand Lodge Code Committee all for the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, State of Washington and Jurisdiction.

In July 2005, R.W. Torrence was elected and installed Grand Lecturer; 2006 and 2007 elected and installed Grand Junior Warden, and 2008 and 2009 elected and installed Grand Senior Warden for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, State of Washington and Jurisdiction.  

A full product of the “Far East”, R.W. Torrence served as Commander-in-Chief of John J. Story Consistory #111, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Mainland Japan; Most Excellent High Priest of Sylvester “Pappy” Cann, H.R.A.M., Okinawa Japan; Illustrious Potentate of As-Sami Temple #225, Mainland Japan.  He has served the positions of Imperial Advisor and Organizer for the Desert of the Far East and Asia as well as Illustrious Scottish Rite Advisor for the Valley of South Korea.  In 1999, R.W. Torrence was nominated to receive the Honorary Thirty-third and last degree in Masonry and in 2001 was Coronated a Grand Inspectors General, United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R. (P.H.A.) in Philadelphia, PA as a member of the class “Alvin H. Swigget”.