MOUNT CARMEL - R.W. Grand Master Jay W. Smith, grand master of Pennsylvania Free and Accepted Masons, has announced the appointment of J. Kevin Jones as district deputy grand master for the newly enlarged 35th Masonic District.
Jones is a member of Cedar Lodge 378, Mount Carmel, which was constituted in 1866. He served as worshipful master in both 1989 and 1997 and as lodge secretary from 1983 to 1985.
Jones will become the third person from Lodge 378 to serve as a district deputy. The first was Alexander R. Ramage from 1948 to 1957 and second was Hugh A. Jones, from 1992 to 1996. This is a first for many districts to have two brothers hold the same position.
A public presentation will be held Tuesday at Cedar Lodge. Smith, other grand lodge officers and District 35 lodge officers will attend the event.
Jones is serving his fourth term as mayor of Mount Carmel Borough. He is a retired teacher and coach, having worked 32 years in the Southern Columbia Area School District. Jones is a 1974 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School and a 1978 graduate of Mansfield University
Jones is a past president of the Mount Carmel Lions Club, president of the board of trustees of the First United Methodist Church in Mount Carmel, past commander of Garfield Camp 34 of the Sons of Union Veterans, past president of the Mount Carmel Area Board of Education, a member of the board of trustees of St Catherine Medical Center, a member of the Family Home Medical Advisory Board, past president and current director of the Mount Carmel Cemetery Company, president of Fraternity Rod and Gun Club in Woodward, a member of the Mount Carmel Elks, Eagles, Lithuanian Social Club and West End Athletic Club and a life member of the West End Fire Company.
Jones also has other Masonic memberships, including the Scottist Rite bodies of the Valley of Bloomsburg and York Rite bodies of Shamokin.
Jones is the youngest son of the late John B. and Dorothy (Kessler) Jones. Jones and his wife Donna reside at 28 E. Avenue.