Page 58 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Richard A. Mecartea

2000-2001

Most Worshipful Brother Richard A. Mecartea was born in Mt.
Vernon on August 9, 1922, to James and Pearl Mecartea. He shared
his childhood with four brothers and three sisters. Our distinguished
Brother attained his early education in the Mt. Vernon and
Marblemount School Systems in Skagit County. He later moved to
Seattle where he graduated from Franklin High School. During
WWII he served in the U.S. Army Field Artillery and rose to the rank
of Gunnery Sergeant. His military experience included serving as an
Infantry Artillery Forward Observer in the South Pacific.
Following his honorable discharge from military service, he attended the University of Washington
and majored in Civil Engineering. He worked during the summer vacations for a mechanical
contractor, and this was the beginning of his life-long vocation in this field. He held positions as
Estimator, Project Supervisor, and Project Engineer on some significant construction programs,
including military projects in Alaska, the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona; a natural gas distribution
system in Anchorage, Alaska; a five hundred mile pipeline and related pumping stations in Iran;
major hospitals in Seattle - Veterans, Swedish, Providence, and University of Washington; the
major reconstruction of SeaTac International Airport; and construction of the Boeing Auburn and
Everett facilities. Our Brother, upon completing his formal education at Seattle Community
College and Purdue University, taught night school for many years at Edison Vocational School,
Seattle Community College, and Renton Vocational Technical School.

Our brother's Masonic career began June 14, 1957, when he joined Elliott Bay Lodge No. 257, in
Seattle and was enrolled a Master Mason March 4, 1958. After progressing through the Lodge
line, he served two years as Worshipful Master of his Lodge in 1964 and 1965.
His long service in our Grand Lodge began when he was appointed Deputy of the Grand Master
for District No. 5 in 1984 by Most Worshipful Brother Matt Martin. He served continuously in
appointed positions including Grand Lecturer, Grand Marshal, Junior and Senior Grand Deacons,
and numerous Committee positions including Chairman of the Future Planning and By-Laws
Committees, until he was elected Junior Grand Warden in June 1997.

During his tenure as Grand Master he preached a theme of “Shaping the Future” while at the same
time “Improving the Present” by becoming involved in our communities by revealing who we are,
what we do, and what we stand for.

Most Worshipful Brother Dick and his wife, Barbara, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary
during his year as our Grand Master. They have been blessed with two daughters, Judith and
Patricia, four grandsons, and one granddaughter. Dick and Barbara are very proud of their family.