Jeff Sowder of Toronto, Kansas., is currently serving his sixth year as a member of the Boards of Directors for Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children. He was elected Imperial Oriental Guide, part of the 13-member body that helps govern the Shriners fraternity, during the Shriners’ 2014  Imperial Session – held in Minneapolis July 6 - July 10.

 

Sowder was raised a Master Mason in 1975 at Toronto Woodson Lodge #121. He served as Master of his lodge in 1981, 1983, 1991 and 1992. After many Grand Lodge appointments, including District Deputy Grand Master, Area Deputy Grand Master, Chairman of the Grand Lodge Membership Committee and serving as an appointive Grand Officer on three separate occasions, he was elected Grand Junior Warden in 1994 and served as Grand Master of Kansas in 1997.

 

Sowder became a member of Midian Shriners in Wichita, Kan., in 1988 and served as the temple’s Potentate in 2004. Sowder has served on many committees at the Imperial level, including the Pilot Implementation Team, Executive Membership Committee, TRAC Committee, Ritual Committee and Leadership Training and Education Seminar Committee. He has also been a presenter at the Imperial Membership, Oriental Guide and Assistant Rabban seminars.

Sowder served as the personal representative for the Wichita Scottish Rite Valley in Wichita from 2006 – 2009 and served on the board of the Kansas Masonic Foundation for 25 years, and as its President from 2004 – 2011.

 

Sowder was born and raised on a ranch in Kansas. He operates four separate agricultural-related corporations, including a 1,000-head cow/calf operation; a retail feed business serving ranchers throughout the Flint Hills of Kansas; a wholesale cattle mineral business with distribution in four states; and a multi-faceted agricultural wholesale/retail business in Wichita.