Page 93 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ George R. Bordewick: 1982-1983

Most Worshipful Brother George Robert Bordewick entered
this life in Vancouver, B. C, born March 23, 1918, to a mother
of Irish-American background and a father of Norwegian
stock. George grew up and attended school in Vancouver, B.
C., graduating from Vancouver High School of Commerce in
1936.
Although he never attended any college, he was an avid reader,
and did a superb job of educating himself.

At the age of nineteen, in 1937, he went to work for the Johns
Mansville Co., and was employed there ten years. In 1939, he
joined the Royal Canadian Army. Some discerning individual
assigned him to the Intelligence Branch in 1941, and he was
sent to England for further training. He saw service during
WWII in England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
After discharge in 1945 he returned home and resumed his employment at the Johns Manville Co.

He came to Washington in 1960, and after two and a half years with a construction company, went to
work for the Brower Company where he worked until he retired, filling various positions culminating with
the title of president and chief executive officer Along the way he was elected a Fellow of the Institute of
Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of London, England.

Inspired by an issue of Life Magazine which featured a picture of Grand Masters from throughout the
United States on the cover, George Bordewick was Initiated into King George Lodge, No. 129,
A.F.&A.M., B.C.R., on March 21, 1957, and subsequently Raised to the Sublime Degree in May of 1957.
When he became a United States citizen, George took a dual membership in Service Lodge No. 255, in
January, 1962, and serving the Lodge through the normal progression became Master of the Lodge in
1970, serving with imagination and distinction.
He was appointed Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 6, serving from 1972-74. He was appointed
Grand Orator in 1974. He served four years on the Finance Committee, the last two as Chairman. He was
elected Junior Grand Warden at the Annual Communication in Spokane in 1979, ultimately serving as
Grand Master in 1982-83. He was also elected Chairman of the Grand Masters Conference of North
America in 1983, and in 1984 was the only Past Grand Master to preside over that body in their long
history. From the force of his personality and the skill of his administrative ability, he was able to move
the Conference out of Washington, D.C. to other states. The Conference was held in Seattle in 1984.
His affiliated and honorary memberships in other Lodges include Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No.
281, serving as Worshipful Master in 1987; Lakeside Lodge No. 258; Cariboo Lodge No. 4, Barkerville,
British Columbia; Eastern Washington Lodge of Research No. 310; Glacier Lodge No. 10, Anchorage,

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