Freemasonry - Paul D. Underwood - Grand Master
Paul Dennis Underwood was born on December 28, 1951 in Hillsboro, Texas as the youngest of 13 children to Dock and Allie Bradford Underwood. His father, a member of Hillsboro Lodge 196 died in 1955. Including his father, Paul has a rich history of Masonry in his extended family. Two of his late brothers, Jim Underwood and Frank Underwood were Masons in Colorado and Illinois respectively. His brother David Underwood is a member of Garland Lodge 441. His son Phil Underwood is an endowed member of both Sunset Lodge 1388 and Oso Naval 1282. His brother-in-law Steve Cumbie and Steve’s son Adam Cumbie are both Past Masters of Eureka Lodge 371 and Paul’s son-in-law Justin Clowdus is a member of Bandera 1123.
Paul along with his two youngest brothers, David and Jerry were placed in the Masonic Home and School of Texas in 1962. As was the custom and tradition of many of those before him, Paul was a proud member of the Mighty Mite football team. In 1970 Paul graduated from our Masonic Home High School. He attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville his freshman year before transferring to the University of North Texas where he graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, majoring in Accounting. He furthered his professional development by attending the University of Michigan, Kambach Management Center in 1982 and the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC in 1983.
In 1974, Paul began his professional career working for our fraternal brother Bob Bullock, the Comptroller of Public Accounts. Paul worked in Dallas, Corpus Christi and Austin. Throughout his career there he held several positions, including, Auditor, Supervisor, Regional Manager, Area Manager, Assistant Director and Director in the Audit and the Information Technology Divisions. From 1988-1991, Paul served as Director of Audit and Administration for the Multistate Tax Commission in Washington, DC. In 2005, Paul retired from the Comptroller’s Office after 34 years of service. Paul is currently self-employed as a tax consultant living in Corpus Christi.
On May 20, 1971, Paul married Rebecca Cumbie of Fort Worth. They met in Corpus Christi in 1970. During their 48 years of marriage, they have lived in Mesquite, Round Rock, Johnson City, Washington DC and Corpus Christi where they currently reside. Rebecca enjoys reading and tending to her flower bed. She has been a member of the Order of Eastern Star for over 35 years and currently belongs to Aransas Pass Chapter # 162. She is also active in the Daughters of the Nile – Elidad #134, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. When time allows, Paul enjoys doing genealogy research, hunting and fishing.
Paul and Rebecca have three wonderful, successful children and are honored each day to be the parents of, Phil Underwood, Kelly Underwood and Kimberly Underwood Clowdus. Paul and Rebecca are also the proud grandparents of three grandsons and six granddaughters. Phil, Kelly and Kim are actively involved in the lives of their children; including their education, hunting and fishing, camping, and competition shooting.
At the age of 21, Paul was raised a Master Mason in Mesquite Lodge #928 on July 9, 1973. He served as Worshipful Master of Johnson City Lodge #561 in 2000-2001. He served as Secretary there 2004-2005. Paul is a plural member of Blanco 216 (Endowed), Phoenix 275, Live Oak 304 (Endowed), San Marcos 342 (Endowed), Rambo 426 (Endowed), Sweet Home 576, Buda 800, Park Place 1172 (Endowed), Oso Naval 1282 (Endowed), Sunset 1388 (Endowed), Wimberley 1445 (Endowed), Texas Lodge of Research and Tranquility 2000. He also served as Secretary of Oso Naval 1282 for 2014-2015 and Treasurer of Sunset 1388 for 2014-2015. He received his 25 year service award at Sunset 1388. He received his 40 year service award as well as the Golden Trowel Award at Rambo 426 and Johnson City 561.
In 2009 he was appointed by Grand Master David Counts to serve as his District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 52. He was honored to be elected and serve on the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home and School 2011-2015 serving as Vice President 2011-2012 and Treasurer 2012-2015. Paul has served on two Grand Lodge committees including serving as Chairman of each. The Take Time to Read Committee he served 2011-2014, and the Masonic Graduates Advisory Committee 2007-2014 and 2016-2017. During the 2009 Grand Communication Paul served as Balloting Chairman for Grand Master David Counts. Paul is also a member of the Dime-A-Day Program supporting our Grand Lodge.
As a graduate of Masonic Home and School, Paul has been involved in the Masonic Ex-Students Association where is served as Treasurer (2007), Vice-President (2008) and President (2008). He also served on the McCaulay Memorial Masonic Scholarship Fund board as Treasurer (2007), Vice-President (2008) and President (2008).
Paul continues to serve on the Shriners Hospital for Children/Houston Board of Governors since 2011. On that board, he has chaired the Credentialing Committee, the Transportation Committee, as well as serves on the Budget and Finance, Process Improvement, and Donor Relations Committees. Paul served as Potentate of Al Amin Shrine in Corpus Christi in 2015. Paul also serves on the Imperial Capital Evaluation Committee for Shriners International.
Paul is a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of San Antonio, KCCH, Corpus Christi Chapter #91 Royal Arch Masons, Corpus Christi Council of Royal & Select Masters #55, South Texas York Rite College #169, Corpus Christi Commandery #57, Harry G Cunningham Council #475 Allied Masonic Degrees, Royal Order of the Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord, Royal Order of Scotland, Anson Jones Chapter #507 and John J. Harris #397 National Sojourners, and Aransas Pass Chapter #162 Order of Eastern Star.
Right Worshipful Paul D. Underwood is humbled to be elected Grand Junior Warden in 2017, Grand Senior Warden in 2018, Deputy Grand Master in 2019 and Grand Master in 2020. He has followed in the footsteps of all the honorable brethren before him, including three former graduates of Masonic Home and School; PGM Hugh Craig (1949), PGM Johnny Bean (1960), and PGM Tom Land (1981).
Paul likes to say he was raised in Masonry twice; once as a child at Masonic Home and again as a Master Mason. He has committed himself to paying it forward for all our Fraternity has done for him. He has the dedication, business experience and leadership skills needed to serve the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas and Texas Freemasonry. Those that know him know he speaks from his heart and loves Texas Masonry.
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