MI Comp. Roderick Q. Blount, Jr.

Grand Thrice Illustrious Master

Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Ohio & Its Jurisdiction

MI Comp. Roderick Q. “Rodney” Blount, Jr. was born in Columbus, Ohio, on September 2, 1986. He attended several schools and consistently made the honor roll. He played percussion in the school band every year since the fifth grade and in middle school he was on the wrestling, football, and track teams. He also was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and won the Kings’ Middle School Geography Bee. He grew up in Southfield Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized in Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church. At Fairfield Senior High School, he was a member of the Marching Band (bass drum), Academic Team, National Honor Society, Student Council, Future Leaders of America, the Principal’s Council, the Superintendent’s Council, Mock Trial team and won several awards for his academic and organizational achievements. He was selected to be in the Who’s Who among High School students publication and graduated with honors in 2004. Outside of school activities, MI Comp. Blount and his brother, Terrell, were initiated in Henry Sims, Sr. Chapter of the Pythagorans in the mid-1990s. They later served as Past Master Counselors of Prince Hall Chapter and as Past Right Valiant Grand Senior Counselors. He won the title of Companion of the Year for several years. He is a Past Advisory Council President of Henry Sims Chapter and is the District 3 Youth Supervisor.

At the age of 17, MI Comp. Blount matriculated to Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He was very active on campus and participated in many activities including the Schmidt Hall Council, History Club (Vice President), Student Leadership Development Board, Multicultural Ambassador Corps, Men of Color, Black Student Association, National Scholars Honors Society, Homecoming Royalty Court, and the Excellence in Leadership Program. He was elected as BSU’s second African American Vice President of the Student Government Association in 2006, concurrently serving as the President of the Student Senate and Chief Judicial Officer of the Judicial Court. He was initiated into Theta Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., on April 9, 2005, and was the recipient of the fraternity’s national Distinguished Collegian Award in 2008. He was inducted into the following honor societies: Omicron Delta Kappa and Order of Omega. In his senior year, he was an intern at the Indiana Statehouse. He graduated with a BA degree in History and another BA degree in Political Science in 2008.

MI Comp. Blount graduated with a MA degree in African American & African Studies from the Ohio State University in 2011. During that time, he was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and has since been inducted into Golden Key and Sigma Alpha Pi honor societies. His master’s thesis on Massies Creek cemetery was featured in several newspaper articles. He received an additional MA degree in Education from Ohio University in 2021. He is an Educator and has worked for several years with the Education Service Center of Central Ohio in the Southwestern City School District. He has also been a college instructor and admissions counselor. 

He is an active member of several organizations including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Life member, Chaplain of Alpha Rho Lambda chapter for 13 years and Midwestern Regional Secretary for 17 years), The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (life member), the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (a member of Cas-Wal Lodge #12083 where he holds the rank of Past Noble Father and is the Area 3 Historian), the Chancellor’s, Ohio Education Association, National Education Association, Columbus Urban League Young Professionals, Franklin County Young Democrats, Central Ohio Young Black Democrats, Logan Family Reunion (Historian), Ray Miller Leadership Institute Alumni Association, Toastmasters Intl., and a Kentucky Colonel.

He is a life member of the NAACP and as a member of its executive board, he reactivated the Columbus Youth Council and started the New Albany High School Youth Council. He’s been featured in six editions of Who’s Who in Black Columbus. He is also proud to have written several articles in the Columbus African American News Journal, the Sphinx, the Lamp and the Pyramid.

MI Comp. Blount comes from a long line of family on both sides who are/were members of the Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star. He is particularly proud that his grandfather (Ernest Blount), brother (Terrell Blount), stepfather (Javan Yisrael), cousin (Lovelle Snow) and uncles (Derrick Dobbins and Leon Blount) are/were members of the same lodge. Also, his mother (Tamah Yisrael), grandmother (Anna Blount), brother (Terrell Blount), and cousin (Alberta Carey) are/were members of the same OES chapter. He has strived to uphold the torch that was handed to him in the same or better condition. 

MI Comp. Blount was initiated into Central Lodge #1 in Indianapolis, two weeks after his 18th birthday and has been an active Mason since then. He is a Past Master – Samaritan Lodge #117, Past High Priest – John C. Logan Chapter #53, Past Thrice Illustrious Master – Herald Council #3, Past Eminent Commander – Taylor Commandery #6, Past Commander-in- Chief – L.D. Easton Consistory #21, Past Illustrious Potentate – Alla Baba #53 and Past Excellent Chief – Claddagh Council #86 (Knight Masons). He received Knight York Cross of Honour (KYCH) in 2018 and was elevated to the 33rd Degree in 2021 (Charles W. Hales Class – Historian). MI Comp. Blount is a Past Patron (Grace Chapter #100), Past Worthy Joshua (Rollin F. Kelley, Sr. Ct. #4), charter Royal Chief Advisor (Herald Court #9) and Past Royal Advisor (Taylor Guild #6). He is also a member of the Phylaxis Society (Life), Chi Rho Fraternity, United Supreme Council NJ PHA (charter life member), James E. Olmstead College Societas Rosicruciana (VII*), African Lodge #459, Grand College of Rites (Life), The Masonic Society, Russell Pace Past Masters Club, Arts & Sciences Lodge #792 (Honorary), Michael Collins Council #138 Knight Masons (Charter Member/Sentinel), Hannibal Tabernacle #78 Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and charter member/officer of The Cory Adams Lodge of Research and Education. In the AEAONMS, he is an Imperial Asst. Historiographer and received the Legion of Honor.

MI Comp. Blount has served the Grand Bodies of Ohio in several capacities. He is particularly proud of assisting in writing the history books for the MEPH Grand Commandery of Ohio and MWPHGL of Ohio. In the Grand Lodge, he is the Third District Right Worshipful Grand Administrative Officer, an Asst. Grand Secretary, Asst. Grand Historiographer, and serves on several committees. He received the Master Mason of the Year Award in 2010 and 2015. He also received the Grand Administrative Officer of the Year Award in 2023.

MI Comp. Roderick Q. Blount, Jr. was greeted into the Royal and Select Masters with his grandfather, Ernest, in 2009, in Herald Council #3. In 2024, they had the pleasure of greeting MI Comp. Blount’s brother, Terrell. He has served in several capacities locally and for the MIPHGC of Ohio. In 2016, RI Comp. Jerry Springer selected him for the R&SM Man of My Choice award. PGTIM Michael Jordan appointed him to the grand line in 2015 and he has progressed to become the Grand Thrice Illustrious Master of the Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Ohio and its Jurisdiction. During his administration, he is proud of the growth in Ohio’s jurisdiction by new membership in the councils, reactivation of Zabud Council #2 in Toledo and the chartering of Frederick D. Blue Council in Denver. He also commissioned the first history book for MIPHGC of Ohio, the mother jurisdiction of all Prince Hall Grand Councils. He is believed to be the youngest Grand Thrice Illustrious Master in the history of our Grand Council!