Ill Sir Francis Shives, PP, Potentate

Ill. Sir Fran is a graduate of Hancock High School & continued his education by receiving an associate of arts degree from Hagerstown Junior College; a bachelor of science degree from Towson University (MD); a masters degree from Shippensburg University (PA); and, a masters +30 degree from University of Maryland. Fran taught middle school science in the Washington County Public School System for 31 years and before his retirement, in 1999. He was awarded membership in the Clear Spring Middle School Hall of Fame; outstanding educator of Washington County on 2 separate occasions; was the founder & advisor for the Clear Spring Middle School student government as well as, the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Ill. Sir Fran has also been active in his community beginning with his involvement in Troop 15 of the Boy Scouts of America where he earned his Eagle Scout Award & 2 Palms + Is A “Brotherhood Member Of The Order Of The Arrow. Fran was also very involved with the Jaycee organization serving as President of the local Hancock Jaycees; was elected the 40th president of the Maryland State Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees); and, elected to serve as a vice president with the U.S. Jaycees. Fran is also a past president of the Hancock Lions Club. He is a member of the Hancock United Methodist Church where he has been quite active in a variety of activities including chairman of the church’s outreach missions program (Camp Joy); charter member of the church’s Handbell Choir; sang in the adult choir; and, served as chairman for the Parish-Parish Relations Committee for several years.

He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in 1985 in his home Lodge of James W. Bowers #173 (Hancock, MD) where he served as secretary for 13 years and continues involvement serving on the catechism degree team. Ill. Sir Fran is also a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Cumberland, where he participates in the 14° Team; is Commander of The Council of Kadosh; member of the Knights of St. Andrew; member of the Royal Order of Scotland and just recently, was invested as a 32° Knight Commander of The Court of Honor (KCCH) during a ceremony in Baltimore on October 18, 2009.

Ill Sir Fran joined Ali Ghan Shriners in 1988 and is a member of the Director’s Staff; the Shrine Golf League; associate member of the Ritualistic Unit; and, past president of the Shepherds Unit. At the conclusion of his first term as Potentate, Fran was presented honorary membership in the Ali Ghan Legion Of Honor, Highlanders Pipe & Drum Band; Railroad Unit; Motor Corps; Harige Unit; and the Sayara Unit. Fran is a past president of the Western Maryland Order of Kentucky Colonels; past president of the Hagerstown Shrine Club; past director of the Royal Order of Jesters; and currently is the keeper of the cob of Hillbilly Clan #42 as well as, the Camaxtli of the Order of Quetzalcoatl, Guardian #32. Ill Sir Fran volunteers time to transport patients to our Shriners Hospitals for Children and was awarded his 20th trip chevron.

Ill Sir Fran served as Potentate of Ali Ghan Shriners in 2007 and at the Imperial Council Session in St. Louis, he was inducted into the Imperial Membership Hall Of Fame and was the keynote speaker during the ceremony. Later, in 2009, he was selected to serve on the Imperial Membership Committee as a T.R.A.C. team member by Imperial Sir George Maxwell.

Fran is married to Susan “Sue” Shives and they reside in Hancock, Maryland.

Charles "Mark" Recard, Chief Rabban

Mark is a member of Acacia Lodge #586 in Waynesboro, PA where he served as Master of the Lodge in 1986. He is a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Harrisburg where he served as Sovereign Prince of the Harrisburg Council Princes of Jerusalem in 2007. He is a member of the Knights of St. Andrew, Cumberland, MD. In Ali Ghan Shriners he is a member of the Director's Staff, Past Masters Unit, Shepherds Unit and the Camper Club. He is a member of ROJ Court #117 and also Guardian Tocalli #32 of The Order of Quetzalcoatl. He is a member of the Kentucky Colonels Club of Western Maryland.

Mark and his Lady Nancy are owners of Equipment Safety Consultants, Inc., an engineering and safety consulting company located in Needmore, PA.

Gregg Viands, Assistant Rabban

Gregg is a member of Prince Frederick Lodge # 142 AF & AM, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Cumberland Valley, Order of Eastern Star Hagerstown Chapter No. 89, Hagerstown Shrine Club, Royal Order of Jesters Cumberland Court 117, Order of Quetzalcoatl Guardian No. 32, Hillbilly Clan No. 42 of Allegany Mountains,and Kentucky Colonels Club of Western Maryland. He is a member of Ali Ghan Shriners’ Garden Club and Camper Club, past president of Ali Ghan’s Band and current Pipe Major for the Ali Ghan Highlanders.

Gregg and Lady Becky reside in Hedgesville, WV and can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Charles W. “Buck” Taylor, Jr., High Priest & Prophet

Member of Queen City Lodge #131; Scottish Rite; York Rite; Jr. Warden in Knights of St. Andrews; Scribe in Tall Cedars; member of the “Q”; member of Ritualistic Unit; Motor Corps; Golf Club; Garden Club all at Ali Ghan Shriners. Member of Ali Ghan Shriners since 1993. Buck is currently working as a school bus driver for Allegany County Public Schools and Frostburg State University. He retired from State of Maryland after 26 years with the Department of Assessments and Taxation. Served as State President of Maryland Assoc. of Assessing Officers; Director on Regional Assoc. of Assessing Officers. Past President and Dep. Dist. Governor of Lions International; Past Director of Imperial Membership Committee and Imperial Public Relations Committee. Member of Kentucky Colonels of Western Maryland; Member of Marquis and Madison "Who's Who" in Industry and Young Executives. Allegany College of Maryland (Allegany Community College); Alderson Broaddus College; Southern California Graduate School of Theology Th.D from School of Religion with a concentration in Church Administration and Deaconship.

Buck and Lady Rosey reside in Cumberland, MD.

R. Thomas Kimble (Tom), Oriental Guide

Tom was born March 20, 1952 in Hagerstown, Maryland. He  graduated from South Hagerstown High School in 1970. He currently resides in Greencastle, PA with his wife Debbie.  Tom is the service manager of Hagerstown Honda in Hagerstown, MD.

Tom worked for the Department of Defense for 29 years retiring in 1998 from the Powertrain Division as Division Chief,  Letterkenny Army Depot. He left that division as the only division on the depot certified to the ISO 9000 Quality Standard. Tom served 45 days in Saudi Arabia in support of the Desert Storm Mission in 1990.

Tom is a veteran of 28 years with the National Guard and Reserve retiring in 1996 as Chief Warrant Officer CW2 with honors.  Tom was a line officer of his local fire department and the Washington County, MD Emergency Air Unit.

Tom is a member of Hagerstown Lodge #217 A.F. & A.M, and Treasurer  of their Temple Board. Tom has served as President of the Ali Ghan Shriners Sayara Unit, located in Hagerstown, MD.

Donald M. Maloof , Treasurer

Don is a member of Queen City Lodge #131 AF & AM since 1967, a 32 degree Scottish Rite, Valley of Cumberland. He was elected to membership of Ali Ghan Shriners in December, 1969. Don has been a member of Ali Ghan Motor Corps since 1971 and served as president in 1977. Don was elected treasurer of Ali Ghan Shriners in 2008.

Don retired in 2000 from the Western Maryland Regional Health System with 35 years of service as a department director. Don and Lady Laura reside in LaVale, MD.

Ill. Sir Robert M Hutcheson, PP - Recorder

Ill. Sir Robert Hutcheson, PP is a member Queen City Lodge #131 and a forty year member of the Scottish Rite. He became a member of Ali Ghan Shriners in 1969 and was elected Potentate in 1979. In 2008, he was elected as Recorder. lll Sir Robert was an educator for 37 years. He currently is an Allegany County Commissioner and has been serving for nine years.

Ill. Sir Robert is married to Judith J. Hutcheson and resides in Cumberland, MD.