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Meet The Divan Members Charles Maddox Potentate Charles E. Maddox is an attorney for the Office of the Secretary of State of Texas. Prior to working for the Secretary of State, he served as an Assistant Attorney General for Texas, and was a budget analyst for the Legislative Budget Board of Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Master of Public Affairs each from the University of Texas at Austin, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Mary’s University School of Law, and a Master of Laws from Stetson University College of Law. He is admitted to the Bar in Texas, and every civilian federal court which has jurisdiction in and over the State of Texas. He, his wife Emily, and their daughter reside in the Austin Area. A proud eleventh generation Texan, Charles is a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and is an Honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy. Read More Ron Speaks High Priest and Prophet Born a Kentuckian, Ron is proud Texan by choice! He is a Vietnam Veteran and after 7 years of active-duty 1968-1975, he continued working for the US Air Force as a DOD Civilian from 1975-2003, with multiple duty stations around the globe. His last assignment was Chief of Aircraft & Missile Maintenance Training Management, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB Utah. While stationed in Alaska, Ron was made a Master Mason at Tanana Lodge #3, became a 32°Scottish Rite Mason and a Noble of AL ASKA Shrine, all at Fairbanks, Alaska during Nov 1998 – June 1999. Later, during his Air Force time and after his 2003 retirement in Utah, he became York Rite Mason, served as Worshipful Master of George Washington Lodge #24, President of Ogden Shrine Club, President of EL Kalah Clowns, VP of the Ogden Temple Board, Finance Committee on the Salt Lake Shriners Hospital Board, Grand Pursuivant on the Grand Lodge of Utah. In 2002 Ron was appointed to Staff positions with EL Kalah Shrine, and was elected Oriental Guide, High Priest & Prophet and Assistant Rabban 2004-2006. Read More Sam Stimson Ph.D. Recorder Samuel Edward Stimson, PhD is a member of the Board of Directors of Ben Hur Shriners. He was created a member of Ben Hur on 2/11/1983 and remained a member until he demitted on12/29/1989. At that time his job at Dell Computers required him to travel frequently to Asia and he had no time to devote to the fraternity. After retirement he returned to Ben Hur in January 2010 and has remained active ever since. He served as Marshal of the Provost Guard in 2013 and as State Marshal in 2015. He was elected to the post of Recorder in 2012 when he served for 2 years and then 1 year as High Priest and Prophet. He took a couple of years off and then returned as Recorder in 2018. He completed his Emeritus year in 2025. Read More Charlie Farnham Chief Rabban Charlie Farnham is a member of the Board of Directors of Ben Hur Shriners. He has been a member of Ben Hur since 1999 and was an active member of the Drum and Bugle Corps until its demise. He is currently a member of the Motley Brue and Golf Units. Charlie is a Past Potentate of Ben Hur, having served in that role in 2008. He is also a dual member of Hella Shriners in Dallas, Texas. Read More Ricki Pierce Oriental Guide Ricki Pierce is a member of the Board of Directors of Ben Hur Shriners. He has been a member of Ben Hur since 1991, is active in the Directors Staff, Trailblazers, Charioteers & Golf Units, also the Motorcycle Club and served as President of the Directors Staff in 2025. He was also a member of Ararat Shriners in Kansas City, Missouri. Read More Ricky Hayes Assistant Rabban Bio Information Goes Here Read More James Heineman PP Treasurer James Heineman is a member of the Board of Directors of Ben Hur Shriners. He has been a member of Ben Hur since 2017, and is active in the Travel Club, Motorcycle Club, Motley Brue Unit, and Directors Staff. Read More The Elected Shrine Leadership Board of Directors Potentate – This is, the Chairman of the Board. It is an elected position. The Nobles, who are members, vote annually, for their choice of Potentate. Chief Rabban – 1st Vice President. As with the Potentate, this is also an elected position. Assistant Rabban – 2nd Vice President. This is also an elected position. High Priest and Prophet – 3rd Vice President. Another elected position. Oriental Guide – 4th Vice President – Yet another elected position. Treasurer - Disburses funds for budgeted and approved expenses. Recorder - Serves as secretary to the board, and conducts day-to-day operations and much more. The elected Board of Directors is the management team.

The Shrine Parades are an enjoyable experience for all who attend. It is a tradition for us to participate in the famous Rose Parade every year, which provides a great opportunity for children to have fun. Don't you remember how much fun you had at the parade? Shrine Parade Every Year the Shriners participate in the Famous Rose Parade We Ride so Children can Walk

Shriners have generations of family members who join the Shrine. This is known as Shriners Family Legacy. There are hundreds of thousands of members from over 200 Shrine Centers (chapters) in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, the Republic of Panama, the Philippines, and Germany. The organization is best known for its philanthropy, Shriners Children Patient Care, and the red fez that members wear. Shriners Family Legacy The Shriners Legacy Program Recognizes Families’ Dedication to Fraternal Values. Family generations have passed down good traditions such as being a Shriner. Introduce your family to join in with you and share the fraternal experience together. If you like to help others and have fun doing it as a family then this is a good place for you to start. Let us know who your family legacy is. Legacy Story Legacy Pin

Provost Guard Unit about us Main Contact & Email David Hoke Vicdog6573@gmail.com E-Mail Phone 512-786-3073 Location Ben Hur Shrine Meeting Days 2nd Thursday of the month 6:00 pm Purpose Website Facebook

Shriners Hospitals Directory helps you get to know where our hospitals are located with contact phone numbers and addresses and links to our Patient Care Facilities. Shriners Hospitals Directory Hospitals & Clinics No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child

Shrine Current Events is a variety of social activities available for the entire family, special interest clubs, and units to satisfy individuals. The privilege of being a part of the "World's Greatest Philanthropy," offers Shriners many opportunities to find personal fulfillment and satisfaction. Current Events A variety of social activities are available for the entire family at Ben Hur Shriners, with many special interest groups, units, and clubs to satisfy individual tastes. The privilege of being a part of the "World's Greatest Philanthropy," offering Shriners many opportunities to find personal fulfillment and satisfaction through supporting Shriners Hospitals. If you would like to conduct a fundraising activity please contact Ben Hur Shriners at (512) 480-0812 or email us at secretary@benhurshrine.org Purchase Tickets September 11th 2026 - Murder Mystery - Ben Hur Shrine September 11th 2026 - Murder Mystery - Ben Hur Shrine 1/1 Event Calendar Ben Hur Shriners and Shriners International are organizations that are dedicated to supporting children in need of medical care. The Shriners are a fraternity of men who share a common bond of brotherhood and work and have fun together to provide charitable services to their communities. Through their various event activities, the Shriners raise funds for medical research and treatment, as well as provide support to families in need. The Ben Hur Shriners, in particular, are based in Austin, Texas, and are committed to making a difference in the lives of children. Whether through parades, fundraisers, or other events, the Shriners are always working to make a positive impact on their community and beyond.

Learn about our Shriner's history and how we started. We have fun with a purpose and our philanthropy is Shriners Children's. Ben Hur Shrine History Ben Hur Shriners Shrine Center is located in Austin, Texas. Ben Hur was granted its charter on August 16, 1892. We are always looking to expand our membership. BRIEF HISTORY OF BEN HUR SHRINE – AUSTIN, TEXAS On October 8, 1891, Ben Hur Shrine met under dispensation in the Oasis of Austin, Texas. Imperial Potentate Sam Briggs had appointed Illustrious Sir George H. Green, Potentate of Hella Temple in Dallas, Texas, to conduct the first meeting of the Ben Hur Shrine. Ben Hur Shrine continued to meet under dispensation, until the 1892 Imperial Council session held in Omaha, Nebraska. On August 15, 1892, the Imperial Council granted Ben Hur Shrine its Charter. When Ben Hur Shrine received its Charter it was the second Shrine Temple in Texas and the 58th Shrine Temple chartered. The first Ben Hur meetings were held in the Masonic Lodge located behind the main Austin Post Office and in 1910 Ben Hur and the Austin Scottish Rite Valley purchased an Opera Theater. This building is still the current Scottish Rite Building in Austin. In 1914 Ben Hur sold its interest in the building to the Scottish Rite and while Stated Meetings were still held at the Scottish Rite building, the various Units met at other locations around Austin. In the 1960s Ben Hur purchased a warehouse in north Austin, on U.S. Highway 183 near its intersection with Lamar Boulevard, for Unit meetings and other events. In 1974 Ben Hur sold this property and acquired 18 acres on the west side of Austin in the community of Westlake Hills. In 1975 construction was begun on an activity building and by 1976 offices were added and Ben Hur moved its Stated Meeting to the new facility, as well as its Unit meetings. The new Ben Hur was located adjacent to Westlake High School. The Ben Hur property was a great location with great view corridors of Austin and a good location for the Nobility. During its time there Ben Hur received several offers to purchase the property. One offer was for $7,000,000 cash and allowed us one year to relocate. However, the Nobility had no desire to relocate so every offer was rejected. Unfortunately, the Westlake School District wanted the property and in 2001 they took it by eminent domain proceedings. After a heated legal battle, Ben Hur was paid $3,400,000, which we were told was sufficient to purchase a like parcel of land and build a comparable structure. The check for the property was delivered to Ben Hur by a School Board Member, accompanied by a Deputy Sherriff, with an order to vacate the property within 48 hours. Ben Hur complied with the court order. This unfortunate chapter in the history of Ben Hur was devastating to our membership and caused the loss of many historical items and records. The school district put forth several bond issues to the voters of the District for the development of the Ben Hur property, but the community rejected the bonds, and the property was not developed. The school district didn’t use the property in any productive way, except parking, for many years. In about 2013, the old Ben Hur buildings were torn down. The school district still continues trying to use the property, without going back to the voters of the district, by leasing the property to others. For a three-year period, Ben Hur was without a home and met at various locations including the Scottish Rite Temple, the Elks Lodge and a rented location on Airport Boulevard, and finally an office building belonging to Noble E. M. Lawrence, which allowed us to meet there at no cost. Noble Lawrence was awarded a life membership to Ben Hur for generosity. Ben Hur purchased approximately 29 acres on Highway 71 approximately three miles east of the Austin International Airport with the intention of building a new center. The purchase price was $185,000. Three bids were received for the construction of a new facility comparable to the one in Westlake Hills. The lowest bid, including the cost of the land, was $1,000,000 more than the amount the school district had paid for the Westlake property. As the cost of building escalated and the time to do construction increased, the Nobility voted to purchase an existing building. Ben Hur Shrine acquired a closed funeral home, located at 7811 Rockwood Lane in Austin, and remodeled it for use as the Ben Hur Center and is currently still at this location. While there is no history of why Ben Hur was named “Ben Hur”, it was the name of the second best-selling book behind the Bible from 1880 to 1936. The book “Ben Hur”, the actual name of the book was “Ben Hur: A Tale of Christ” was written in the 1870s by Union Civil War General Lew Wallace. In addition to being a Civil War General, General Wallace served as territorial Governor of New Mexico during the time of Billy the Kid. Of course, Ben Hur Shrine was chartered and named prior to any of the “Ben Hur” movies, so our name came from the book, not the movies. Ben Hur published brochures during its early years, especially about upcoming Ceremonials. And, in the 1930s Ben Hur started the publication of a newsletter and named it “The Chariot”. The Chariot was published periodically until after World War II and starting in 1947, The Chariot was published monthly as Ben Hur’s method of communication. While electronic communications are changing how The Chariot is received by the Nobility, The Chariot continues to be the official communication method. Ben Hur Shrine’s first circus was in 1942 and in 1948 Ben Hur Shrine Circus became an annual event in Austin and has entertained thousands of Central Texans over the years. The Ben Hur Circus continues to be a principal fundraiser and fun event for Ben Hur. Every Shrine Center has its own unique fraternal pin. When Ben Hur was chartered in 1892, new pins were ordered. When the pins arrived, it was discovered that they had been made with the Simitar upside down, which is a sign of distress. The manufacturer refused to replace the pins saying that he had made the pins exactly as requested. Since Ben Hur had just been established and had no funds to replace the pins, the Potentate contacted Imperial Headquarters, explained the problem, and requested permission to use the upside-down pins. Imperial granted special dispensation to Ben Hur to use the pin as manufactured and to this day, it remains Ben Hur’s official pin. The Purpose of Ben Hur Shrine is Fun, Fellowship, and Brotherly Love and that is our foremost objective. Ben Hur representatives were present at the Imperial Shrine Convention when the delegation voted to have a philanthropy and open a children’s hospital for the purpose of treating children with polio. That first hospital was opened in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and over the years has increased to 22 hospitals for children. Shriners support Shriners Hospitals for Children, a health care system of 22 hospitals that are committed to providing care for children in our specialty areas of Orthopedics, Burn Care, Spinal Cord Injury, and Cleft Lip and Palate, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Throughout Ben Hur Shrine history, Ben Hur has been a consistent contributor to the world's greatest philanthropy Shriners Hospital for Children. Ben Hur Shriners truly know and support the mission of our hospitals and believe in the meaning of the slogan “No Man Stands So Tall As When He Stoops To Help A Child”. HAVING FUN – CARING FOR KIDS – CHANGING THE WORLD

Highland Lakes Shrine Club about us Main Contact & Email Ted Robertson ted_l_Robertson@yahoo.com E-Mail Phone 512-635-0631 Location China Kitchen, 705 1st Street Marble Falls, TX Meeting Days 2nd Thursday of the month 6:30 pm Purpose Website Facebook

Become a Shriner now. We would love to have you join our fraternity. You must be a Master Mason before you can join the Shriners. Learn more here. Become A Shriner Now To find out more and to be contacted by a virtual mentor Register at BeAShrinerNow.com Contact Mentor Why Join

Shrine Membership includes Shriners whom we also call nobles and their ladies are what we call courtesies. Our membership is made up of various individuals, and if they are not Shriners they are considered courtesy members. Please join in on the Fun, Family, Friends, and Fellowship. Members of Ben Hur Shriners Ben Hur Shriners is proud to be part of the Shriners International community, and we strive to embody the core values of this organization. We are committed to helping others and providing our members with a sense of fellowship and camaraderie. We invite you to join us in celebrating our commitment to philanthropy, service, and brotherhood. Contact Us Photo Gallery Shriners Fez 2026 Potentate Charles E Maddox and First Lady Emily Pins 2026 Potentate - Charles E Maddox 2026 Chief Rabban - Charlie Farnham 2026 Assistant Rabban - Ricky Hayes 2026 High Priest and Prophet - Ron Speaks 2026 Oriental Guide - Ricki Pierce 2026 Treasurer - James Heineman PP 2026 Recorder -Sam Stimson Ben Hur Shriner having fun Ben Hur Shriners Ben Hur Shrine Circus Happiness Shriners International Fez Editorial With Out Words Ben Hur Shriners Potentate at the circus Ben Hur Shriners Parade Bikes Ben Hur Shriner Circus Man Ben Hur Shriners Clowns Beh Hur Shriners Chariot Shriners Legacy Ben Hur Shriners Antique Car Ben Hur Shriners Clown Ben Hur Shriners Fez Masons And Shriners Logo Not Just a man, a Mason Scimitar Logo