The Jack Dellefield Award

Who was Jack Dellefield and why does Chicago Lodge consider this award as the most prestigious honor that we can confer on a Lodge member?

Jack Dellefield was born in 1878 and began his Masonic career in 1917 in Beehive Lodge. He demitted and joined Perfection Lodge where he became Worshipful Master in 1924. Through consolidation, he became a member of Chicago Lodge and in 1959 he again served as Worshipful Master, some 35 years after he first served as a Worshipful Master. At the age of 96, he was still working in Chicago Lodge as Tyler until his passing in 1974.

AND NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY... 

His work involved a great deal of travel and gave him the opportunity to visit hundreds of Lodges. His Masonic work was flawless and he never hesitated to assist any Lodge when asked. He was very active in visiting his sick Brethren and helped keep Masonry alive by his work both in and out of Lodge where he helped people of all ages, monetarily and in other ways. 

In 1970, the Lodge created the Jack Dellefield Award to honor him for his qualities. From that point forward, Brethren of Chicago Lodge who emulated him for these qualities could be honored by being elected to receive the Award bearing his name. This is not an annual or bi-annual award, but one that is given sparingly with great  consideration. 

Each year three Lodge members are elected to serve with the Worshipful Master plus previous recipients of the Dellefield Award as an Administrative Committee. A Brother may be suggested to receive this award. He is not informed nor interviewed until all considerations are complete. All knowledge of him must be generated by other means and all voting is done in person by paper ballot.

Politicking is not permitted and “What goes on in the back room, stays in the back room.”

1970 - Jack Dellefield - deceased

???? - Ben Gould - deceased

1974 - Harold Jacobson - deceased

1978 - Larry Wolfman - deceased

1979 - Charles Allen - deceased

1980 - Arthur Gilbert - deceased

1981 - Sam Jerry Berger - deceased

1993 - Eugene Shedroff - deceased

1994 - Charles Rabishaw - deceased

1995 - Sam Shacter - deceased

            Reuben Sonshine - deceased

1996 - Samuel Spector

1997 - David Arkin - deceased

1998 - Aaron Levine - deceased

2004 - Joseph Bartel

2006 - Alfred "Fritz" Becker - deceased

2008 - Melvin Gerber - deceased

2010 - Robert Schiff - deceased

2013 - Ira Gilbert - deceased

2014 - Edwin "Ed" Metzl - deceased

2016 - Hilton Kaufman

2020 - Mark Klinghoffer

2022 - Jorge Valencia