Jim S. Deyo was born on May 13, 1938, in Chenoweth, Ohio. He is the son of Harold and Mildred (Truitt) Deyo. He attended Midway High School where he graduated in 1956. He then enrolled at The Ohio State University in the College of Education. Brother Deyo left Ohio State University and became employed by the State of Ohio Department of Transportation as Assistant Service Manager and Timekeeper. After seven years of employment by the State of Ohio, he departed the state employment to continue his formal education. In January, 1964, he enrolled at the Ohio State University in the College of Agriculture. He transferred in 1966 to Franklin University, where in 1967 he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration with a minor in accounting.
Immediately upon his graduation from college, he joined the Trust Department of Ohio National Bank as office manager. Brother Deyo was elected an officer of Ohio National Bank in February, 1969 and became assistant manager of trust operations and support. In 1972 he became manager of trust operations and support and, in 1979, was elected a Vice President of Bancohio National Bank (successor to Ohio National Bank.) He enrolled in the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in 1979, and completed his requirements in the summer of 1982, receiving his trust graduate degree from the National Graduate Trust School. During his employment with Bancohio, he was instrumental in numerous automation changes in trust banking and was on various committees at both state and national levels for the Ohio Bankers Association. In 1983, he established and managed the first discount brokerage operations for Bancohio National Bank statewide.
In 1991, he was selected to manage the newly formed Charitable Endowment Division for National City Bank of Columbus (successor to Bancohio National Bank) and served as Vice President and Regional Manager of the Division for the Dayton and Columbus regions until his retirement June 30, 2001.
In community service, Brother Deyo has been a member of the Mt. Sterling Rotary Club and served as its treasurer. He was a member and trustee of the Executive Club of Columbus. He became a life member of the Ohio State University President’s Club in 1978 and a life member of the Ohio State University Alumni Club in 1968. He is also a member of the Ohio Sate University Faculty Club, the Capital Club, York Golf Club, London Country Club, Madison County Farm Bureau and the Madison County OSU Alumni Association.
Brother Deyo was married on November 24, 1984, to Marjorie Browning Tilch of Bethesda, Maryland. To this marriage is one stepson, Richard Tilch, who resides in Hughesville, Maryland.
The Deyo’s are members of the United Church of Mt. Sterling where they have served in many official capacities, including deacon and members of the church council.
Most Worshipful Brother Deyo was raised a Master Mason in Mt. Sterling Lodge #269, Mt. Sterling, Ohio, on June 15, 1961, and served as its Worshipful Master in 1967. He became a plural member of Capital City Lodge #656 in 2004.
He completed the degrees of Scottish Rite in the Valley of Columbus in November, 1961, and was appointed to the Council Line in June of 1976. He served as Sovereign Prince of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem in 1989-91, during which time he also served the Valley of Columbus as Chairman of the Executive Committee. Brother Deyo was elected Treasurer of the Ohio Council of Deliberation in June, 1990, a position he held until his resignation in 2004. He was then elected to Emeritus status. He is also serving as secretary/treasurer for the Board of Trustees of the Grand Lodge Scholarship Foundation, a position which he has held since 1990.
In 1990, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home and a member of the Finance and Pension Committees for the Home. He was elected Chairman of the Finance and Pension Committees in 1994 and a member of the Executive Committee for the Board. He was elected Treasurer of the Ohio Masonic Home Board of Trustees in 1996 and served in those positions until his resignation in 1999, having completed three, three-year terms as a member of the Board. He was then elected to Emeritus status.
Brother Deyo was exalted in Adoniram Chapter #74, Royal Arch Masons, at London, Ohio, in February, 1972, and was greeted in London Council #40, Cryptic Masons, April 1972 and became a Sir Knight of Willis Commandery #82, Knights Templar, in 1999. He was elected a Knight Companion of Charlemagne Conclave Red Cross of Constantine in 1998.
Brother Deyo is a member of Aladdin Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. and was named Ambassador in 1998. He became a member of the Worthington High Twelve Club in 2003.
Brother Deyo was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Honorary 33rd Degree Mason, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in September, 1986 and elected an active member of the Supreme Council in Grand Rapids, Michigan in September, 1997. He was appointed Grand Marshal General of the Supreme Council in September, 2001, and elected to this position for three years in 2002. He is a member of the Administrative Council for the Supreme Council, Chairman of the Investment Committee and a member of the Nominating Committee. In 1998, he was elected a member of the Executive Committee for the 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc. He is currently serving as Chairman for Fund Raising for Supreme Council Charities in the State of Ohio.
For the Grand Lodge of Ohio, he served as District Education Officer, 1969-72; District Deputy Grand Master, 1973-75 for the 9th Masonic District and Grand Treasurer, 1986-97. He was appointed by Most Worshipful Brother C. Michael Watson in 1997 as Junior Grand Deacon. He has subsequently been appointed Senior Grand Deacon in 1998, Grand Marshal in 1999 and Grand Orator in 2000. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 2001, Senior Grand Warden in 2002 and Deputy Grand Master in 2003.
Most Worshipful Deyo has held a Masonic Office in Masonry for 42 consecutive years of his 43 years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity.
On Oct. 15, 2004, he was elected, and on Oct. 16, 2004, installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Ohio.