FAMOUS MASONS

Aldrin, Edwin E. - Known as "Buzz" - American astronaut who as a crew member of Apollo 11 became the second human being to walk on the moon (July 20, 1969).
Austin, Stephen F. - American colonizer and political leader who worked to make Texas a state of Mexico but later helped Texas settlers gain their independence (1836). Known as the 'Father of Texas'.
Autry, Gene - American actor who made some 90 movies from the 1930s through the 1950s, cowboy singer ("Back in the Saddle Again" and more), and professional sports team owner (original owner of the California Angels baseball team). Many young people today have grown up listening to his rendition of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Brother Gene was a "true gentleman".

Basie, William "Count" - Orchestra leader/composer
Baylor, Robert E. B. - Founder of Baylor University, Texas' first Baptist college
Beard, Daniel Carter - American writer and illustrator. In 1905, he founded the Sons of Daniel Boone which in 1910 became the first Boy Scout organization in the US
Bellans, Francis J. - The minister who created America's Pledge of Allegiance
Bentsen, Lloyd M. - A life member of his Masonic Lodge in Texas, Bro. Bentsen served the U. S. with honor and distinction as a bomber pilot in WWII, a US Congressman, Senator and Secretary of the Treasury. His run for the presidency in 1976 allowed the country to meet this kind and considerate man. He was the Vice Presidential candidate with Michael Dukakis in the 1988 campaign where, during the debate with his opponent he used the now-famous phrase "I knew John Kennedy....". Bro. Bentsen's daughter advises us that he suffered a stroke about two years ago and is now confined to a wheel chair but in November, 2000 will celebrate his 57th wedding anniversary! His daughter Tina was a member of Rainbow and is now an Eastern Star. Her daughter is a Rainbow Grand Representative so the Masonic connection runs deep. 
Berlin, Irving - Entertainer and songwriter who wrote more than 1,500 songs including "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (1911) and several musical comedies like Annie Get Your Gun (1946)
Black, Hugo L. - U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Blair, Jr., John - U.S. Supreme Court Justice and member of the Constitutional Convention
Bond, Shadrach - First Grand Master of Freemasons and first Governor of Illinois
Boone, Daniel - Mythologized early U. S. pioneer responsible for the exploration of Kentucky. Although his Masonic membership is unprovable, here is what Nathan Boone had to say about his father's funeral: "Father's body was conveyed to Flanders Callaway's home at Charette, and there the funeral took place. There were no military or Masonic honors, the latter of which he was a member, as there were then but very few in that region of the country." (Hammon, Neal O. (ed.) "My Father, Daniel Boone- The Draper Interviews with Nathan Boone." Lexington, Kentucky:The University Press of Kentucky, 1999. p. 139.)
Borglum, Gutzon & Lincoln - Father and Son who carved the presidential busts on Mt. Rushmore
Borgnine, Ernest - Film and television actor. In 1955 received the Oscar as Best Actor for the film Marty. Known to a generation of television fans for his role as the Captain in McHale's Navy
Buchanan, James - 15th President of the U.S. (1857-1861).

Chrysler, Walter P. - American automobile manufacturer who founded the Chrysler Corporation
Churchill, Winston - British politician and writer. Prime Minister (1940-1945 and 1951-1955). His inspiration is often credited with helping Britain survive under the onslaught of Hitler's evil.
Clark, William - American explorer and frontier politician who joined another Freemason, Meriwether Lewis on the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-6), the first overland exploration of the American West and Pacific Northwest. Clark was responsible for the careful mapmaking. He later served as Native American agent and governor of the Missouri Territory (1813-1821).
Clemens, Samuel L. - Mark Twain - Writer and humorist. His famous works include the characters of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
Cobb, Ty - U.S. baseball player and manager who was the first player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Colt, Samuel - Firearms inventor and manufacturer. He invented the first revolver
Crockett, David ('Davy') - Frontiersman and politician. US Representative from Tennessee who joined the Texas revolutionaries fighting against. Mexico. He died at the siege of the Alamo

Dempsey, (William Harrison) Jack - Became a professional boxer in 1912 and  fought in more than 100 semi-pro and professional bouts before winning the heavyweight championship in 1919. He successfully defended his title five times before losing to Gene Tunney in an upset in 1926. In the rematch in 1927, Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh round but delayed going to a neutral corner, so the referee gave the controversial "long count" (estimated from 14 to 21 seconds) and Tunney went on to win on points. Later became a restaurant owner in New York.
Dole, Robert J. - Decorated Veteran, World War II; U.S. Congressman and Senator from Kansas, 1961�96; Majority and Minority Leader, U.S. Senate; Nominee for President of the United States 1996; Humanitarian and Philanthropist
Dow, Herbert Henry - Founded Dow Chemical Co.

Edward VII - Prince of Wales and subsequently King of England;
Edward VIII - King of England who abdicated the throne in less than 1 year in order to marry the woman he loved
Ellington, Duke - American jazz composer, orchestrator, bandleader, and pianist, considered the greatest composer in the history of jazz music and one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century. 

Fairbanks, Douglas - American silent film actor known for his performance in swashbuckling adventures such as 'Robin Hood'
Fields, W. C. - American entertainer known for his raspy voice, bulbous nose, and sardonic disposition.His films include My Little Chickadee (1940) and Never Give a Suckeran Even Break (1941).
Ford, Gerald R. - 25 year Congressman and Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives, he was appointed Vice President of the U.S. in the wake of the Spiro Agnew scandal. When President Richard Nixon resigned, he became the 38th President of the United States. Although very unpopular at the time, his pardon of Nixon was - in retrospect - credited in great measure with healing the wounds in the U.S. left by the Vietnam War.
Ford, Henry - Invented the first gasoline powered automobile in 1893, founded Ford Motor Company in 1903 and mass-produced the first widely available and affordable car
Franklin, Benjamin - American printer (he published the first book to come off the press in the colonies - Anderson's Constitutions of 1723), author, diplomat, philosopher, and scientist, whose contributions to the American Revolution (1775-1783), and the newly formed federal government that followed, rank him among the country's greatest statesmen. He held the Masonic title of Grand Master of Pennsylvania and was one of the 13 Masonic signers of the Constitution of the United States.

Gable, Clark - American actor who played opposite nearly every major female star during the 1930's. Perhaps best remembered for his role as Rhett Butler in 'Gone with the Wind', he had received an Academy Award as Best Actor (in the Best Movie) of 1934 ('It Happened One Night').
Garfield, James A. - The 20th President of the United States, he was assassinated in 1881 and his death was the cause of considerable mourning in the US

Gillette, King C. - American inventor and manufacturer who developed the safety razor and founded the Gillette Safety Razor Co
Glenn, John H., Jr. - U. S. astronaut and first American to orbit the earth in a space craft in 1962, he became a U. S. Senator from Ohio from 1974 through 1998 and in November, 1998, returned to space 36 years after his original journey as the oldest American astronaut. "God speed, Brother Glenn!"
Grissom, Virgil "Gus" - Astronaut who made the second crewed spaceflight in 1961, he was tragically killed in a launch pad explosion in 1967.

Hancock, John - One of nine Masons - and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was President of the Continental Congress and served nine terms as Governor of Massachusetts.
Harding, Warren G. - The 29th President of the United States. His political appointments engaged in serious corruption leading to the "Teapot Dome" scandal. He died in office. 
Hardy, Oliver - American comedian, famous for the slapstick abuse he inflicted upon his partner, Stan Laurel. 
Hoover, J. Edgar - American Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (1924-1972). He is remembered for fighting gangsterism during the Prohibition ear (1919-1933) and for a vigorous anti-Communist campaign after World War II
Hornsby, Rogers - US baseball player, led the National League in hitting for 5 years and had a lifetime batting average second only to Bro. Ty Cobb.
Houdini, Harry - Premiere American magician known for his escapes from chains, handcuffs, straitjackets and padlocked containers.
Houston, Sam - American general who became the 2nd&4th President of the Republic of Texas. When Texas was admitted to the Union, he served as US senator and governor.
Humphrey, Hubert H. - U.S. Vice President under Lyndon Johnson.

Jackson, Andrew - 7th President of the United States (1829-1837) and first Westerner to be elected President. A national military hero for his actions in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, His term addressed many of the significant issues in the formation of the country but was marked by political partisanship so common in that time. He left a legacy of a strong presidency. He was Grand Master of Masons in Tennessee two terms (1822-1824).
Johnson, Andrew- The 17th President of the United States, he succeeded the assassinated Abraham Lincoln. An attempt to unseat Secretary of War Edwin Stanton led to his impeachment on purely political grounds; he was acquitted by one vote.
Jones, Anson - 5th President of the Republic of Texas

Kemp, Jack - US Republican Congressman from New York, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Vice Presidential candidate with Mason Bob Dole 
Key, Francis Scott - American lawyer and poet who wrote the lyrics which in 1931 became the United States' National Anthem
Kipling, Rudyard - British writer who won the Nobel Prize for literature. Many of his works have strong Masonic themes and some are specifically about Freemasonry

LaGuardia, Fiorello - American politician, the major airport in New York city is named in his honor. 
Lamar, Mirabeau B. - American politician and diplomat, he was the 2nd President of the Republic of Texas and later served as Minister to Nicaragua
Lewis, Meriwether - American soldier and explorer who, with fellow Mason William Clark conducted the first overland exploration of the West and Pacific Northwest. He also served as Governor of the Louisiana Territory and was proclaimed a National Hero. He was the first Master of St. Louis Lodge #111
Lindbergh, Charles - American aviator who made the first solo transatlantic flight

MacArthur, General Douglas - A former US Chief of Staff, he commanded the Allied Forces in the South Pacific during World War II. He promised the Filipino people "I shall return"
Mayer, Louis B. - Film producer who merged to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Mayo, Dr. Charles - One of the brothers who began the world-famous Mayo Clinic, recognized as the first 'medical group practice' in the United States.
Maytag, Fredrick - Headed the company which produced farm equipment, the now little-known Maytag car and the first washing machine capable of being operated by an outside power source
McKinley, William - The 25th President of the United States (1897-1901). His presidency was marked by the Spanish-American War (1898), the annexation of Cuba and the Philippines, an open-door policy with China, and the passage of the Gold Standard Act (1900). He was assassinated by an anarchist in Buffalo, New York.
Mellon, Andrew - Financier, public official, philanthropist; He helped found the Union Trust Company of Pittsburgh (1898), the Gulf Oil Corporation (1895), the Pittsburgh Coal Company (1899), the Aluminum Company of America, and the company that built the Panama Canal locks. He served as Secretary of the Treasury under three presidents and stressed policies aimed at reducing the national debt. He forged agreements with European governments for repayment of their World War I debts and served as ambassador to Britain (1932--33). In 1913 he established the Mellon Institute for Industrial Research and he endowed the National Gallery of Art (1937).
Monroe, James - The fifth President of the United States (1817-1825), whose administration was marked by the acquisition of Florida (1819), the Missouri Compromise (1820), in which Missouri was declared a slave state, and the profession of the Monroe Doctrine (1823), which declared U.S. opposition to European interference in the Americas.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - (1756-1791) Austrian composer considered among the greatest and most prolific composers in history. Of his more than 600 compositions, the finest works, including his last three symphonies (1788) and the operas Don Giovanni (1787)and The Magic Flute (1791), were written in the last five years of his short life.
Murphy, Audie - Most decorated American Soldier of WWII.

Naismith, James - Canadian-born American sports educator who invented the game of basketball
New, Harry S. - Postmaster General of the United States who established Airmail

Olds, Ransom E. - American automobile inventor and manufacturer. Founded the Olds Motor Company.
Otis, James - American Revolutionary politician and publicist. Famous for "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny"

Palmer, Arnold - Golf Professional who for years set the example to make golf a 'gentlemen's' sport
Peale, Rev. Norman Vincent - American cleric, founder of "Guidepost", and known for his famous book, "The Power of Positive Thinking"
Peary, Admiral Robert E. - First man to reach the North Pole (1909)
Penny, J (James) C. - US retailer who donated large amounts of money to charity
Pershing, John Joseph - ("Black Jack") American Army General who led the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. In 1921, he was given the rank of General of the Armies, a rank only conferred once
Polk, James Knox - Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Governor of Tennessee and eleventh President of the U.S.

Revere, Paul - American silversmith, engraver and Revolutionary hero who on April 18, 1775 made his famous ride to warn "The British are coming!" as celebrated in a poem by Longfellow. Revere was a Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
Richards, Michael - The talented actor most popularly known as "Kramer" from the Seinfeld television series is a member of Riviera Lodge #780, Pacific Palisades, CA and the Southern California Lodge of Research
Ringling Brothers - All 7 of these famous Circus brothers and their father were Masons.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. - Governor of New York and 32nd President of the United States, he was the only US president to be reelected three times. He brought his country out of the Great Depression, guided them through World War II and died in office. He was succeeded by another Mason, Harry S. Truman.
Roosevelt, Theodore - Hero of the Spanish-American War, Governor of New York, Vice President and when President (and Mason) William McKinley was assassinated, he became the 26thPresident of the United States. Winner of the Nobel peace prize.

Salten, Felix - Creator of Bambi
Savalas, Telly - Actor who became famous as the bald police detective who was strong on the outside but gentle inside - and always had a lollypop in his mouth.
Sax, Antoine Joseph - Musician who invented the Saxophone (1846)
Schirra, Walter M. - Made a "Mason at Sight" by the Grand Master of Masons of Florida, he carried several Masonic items with him on his Apollo 7 flight and was the command pilot on the history-making Gemini 6 flight which made a rendezvous with  the already orbiting Gemini 7 spacecraft, the first rendezvous of two manned, maneuverable spacecraft
Sellers, Peter - English actor and comedian, his popularity was unrivalled as the incompetent Inspector Clouseau in a series of films that began with The Pink Panther (1963) and extended beyond his death to The Trail of the Pink Panther (1982). He received an Oscar nomination for 'Being There' (1980).
Sousa, John Philip - U.S.Marine Band leader from 1880 - 1892, he wrote numerous marches including the U. S.'s 'national march', "The Stars and Stripes Forever"
Stanley, Sir Frederick Arthur - A keen sportsman, he originated the Stanley Cup to encourage winter sports in Canada. Today, it is the most important award in professional hockey given to the team winning the National Hockey League championship

Taft, William Howard - Civil governor of the Philippines, Secretary of War, Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and twenty-seventh President of the U.S.
Thomas, Danny - Entertainer / Founder of St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Mr. Thomas often told the story of how physicians at his hospital explained to him the need for a very unique therapy for a patient at St. Jude's which was only available at a Shrine Hospital. Mr. Thomas told the doctors to proceed with the treatment, regardless of the cost. When he was advised that there would be no cost, Mr. Thomas was shocked and vowed to find out more about this organization. Shortly thereafter, he petitioned and became a Mason. Prior to his death, he was featured in videos and wrote articles praising the good works of Freemasonry.
Thomas, Dave - Founder of Wendy's Restaurants
Travis, Colonel William B. -American military leader who commanded the Texans who died in defense of the Alamo.
Truman, Harry S. - A U. S. Senator from Missouri (1935-45), his personal integrity helped him getreelected in 1940 despite the exposure of the Missouri machine's corruption. He came to national attention heading what was called the Truman Committee, which investigated government wartime production and saved taxpayers millions of dollars. He became vice-president in 1944. Truman became the thirty-third President of the United States with the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, another Mason; he would go on to win a close election in 1948. The most active Mason to hold the highest office in the United States.

Warner, Jack - One of the brothers who created the American motion-picture production company known as Warner Brothers. They were the first to use sequences of sound in a silent feature film.
Washington, George - As General of the Armies of the colonies, he led the revolution which created American independence. As the first President of the United States, his leadership was crucial to establishing the 'tone' for the United States. His love of Freemasonry is documented by his close reliance upon other Masons in the execution of his duties. Following his death, his widow sent locks of his hair (a common practice of the time) to Masons throughout the country and such revered treasures were the object of great appreciation. To this day, a lock of his hair sent to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is carried in a golden urn preceding the entry of the Grand Master at the Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge. 
Wayne, John - "The Duke" - One of the most popular actors of recent years. His 'manly' roles helped define a generation.

Young, Cy - American baseball player, he pitched for 22 seasons and was, perhaps, the greatest pitcher in the history of the sport. He pitched the first 'perfect game' in modern baseball. 

Ziegfeld, Florenz - His Ziegfeld's Follies began in 1907

Important Note:
This listing is not all-inclusive nor is it an 'official' list of any sort. Information is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Any errors are solely the fault of the compiler!