Ontra D. Gilliam Sr., 32°
WORSHIPFUL MASTER
Pima Lodge No. 10
Brother Ontra D. Gilliam Sr. was born in Lynwood, California on June 15, 1966 to Henrietta Mackey and Theodore R. Gilliam. He has four brothers, Terrell, Eric, Robert, and Teddy. He graduated from Compton Sr. High in Compton, California in June of 1984. Bro. Gilliam joined the United States Army in 1988. During this period, he attended basic training and AIT where he was trained as a 12B10 Combat Engineer.
After completing training in 1989, he was assigned to Dexhiem, Germany. There he met people from all walks of life. Bro. Gilliam soon deployed to Desert Storm/Desert Shield where his division supported the 3rd Armored Division. He was discharged from the military in August 1991. After coming home from the military, he attended ITT Technical Institute, where he earned an AA Degree in Electronic Computer Engineering. He utilized his education to start a family operated mobile computer repair business “Big Boss Man PC and Mac Repair.”
Bro Gilliam began his Masonic journey when he observed some friends doing different things that they couldn’t talk about, but as you know “curiosity killed the cat”, so he asked them about Freemasonry, and low and behold he received a petition for initiation from Wise Military Lodge No. 125, Free and Accepted Masons, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Oklahoma and Jurisdiction. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason by PM Stephan Bell and conducted by PM James C. Cutler. This was an honor bestowed upon him and to this day he has no regrets in choosing to join Prince Hall Freemasonry. Upon returning to the States, he arrived in Tucson, Arizona. In 1994, when he was passing through South Tucson, he came across Pima Lodge No. 10. There he met a group of brothers that welcomed him with open arms, the most memorable of them was PGM Gene Berry. He assisted Bro. Gilliam with obtaining a demit to affiliate into the Jurisdiction of Arizona. Since then, Bro. Gilliam has served in the office of Junior Warden (2018) and Senior Warden (2019, 2020).
Bro. Gilliam’s other Masonic affiliations include membership in Noah Consistory No. 55, A.A.S.R. of Freemasonry, PHA, Southern Jurisdiction where he was elevated to the 32° in July 2014 and Scimitar Temple No. 108, Ancient Egyptian Arabic order Nobles Mystic Shrine, PHA, North and South America and Jurisdictions Inc. where he was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in 2013. Within the Shrine, he has served in several offices to include Ceremonial Master, Assistant Rabban (2015-2016), Chief Rabban (2017-2018), and Illustrious Potentate (2019-2020). Bro. Gilliam is also a member of the Order of the Knights of Pythagoras. Most importantly, he is the proud father of six girls and two boys, and grandfather of eight grandchildren, four boys and four girls.