Illustrious Brother Joe R. Manning, Jr., 33°, became Deputy of the Supreme Council for the Orient of Oklahoma on January 1, 2010. The Scottish Rite Craft in the Orient of Oklahoma will no doubt prosper under his leadership!

Br. Joe was born and reared in Cushing, Oklahoma, where he and his wife, Cindy, currently reside. After earning his B.A. from Oklahoma State University, he attended the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law, and earned a Juris Doctor degree. Professionally, he served as Executive Director of the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma (MCFOK) for 26 years. Under his stewardship, the Foundation’s endowment increased significantly, and new programs were implemented that broadened the range of services provided. Previous to his tenure with MCFOK, he served as a Trustee of the Sand Springs Home. He also served in the Army Reserve, attaining the rank of Captain before being discharged.

Community service has been a hallmark of his life. Br. Joe has served as Mayor of the City of Cushing, and currently a member of the city commission for the City of Cushing and is Vice-Mayor. As well, he is the Vice-Chairman of the Cushing Regional Hospital Board of Trustees, and serves on the Administrative Council of his church.

At the state level, Br. Joe was a Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1974 to 1982, and has served on the Boards of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Br. Joe is widely known and highly regarded for his commitment to the ideals of Masonry, as evidenced by his leadership of multiple Masonic bodies. His association with the fraternity began as a young man, when he became a member of DeMolay. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Cushing Lodge #111 in 1968. Since then, he has been an active member of, and held leadership responsibilities in, numerous concordant and appendant Masonic bodies, including the Scottish Rite, York Rite, and Shrine.

Previous to his appointment as Deputy of the Supreme Council, Br. Joe served as a member of the Advisory Conference and Personal Representative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the Valley of Guthrie.