The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio announced that Thomas F. Jenkins of Wilmington was appointed Grand Chaplain for the 2020 Masonic year. The Ohio Grand Lodge was organized in 1808 and serves 70,000 members in 450 local lodges.

As Grand Chaplain, Jenkins is charged with bringing the Masonic concept of spirituality and moral conscience to all Ohio Freemasons. He occupies a supporting role between the fraternity, its members and their families.

He is a member of the Wilmington and Yellow Springs Masonic Lodges. He is a Past Master and Lodge Education Officer of the Wilmington Masonic Lodge and a Past District Education Officer of the 8th Masonic District. He is also a member of the Xenia Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite-Valley of Cincinnati.

Jenkins was born in Charleston, Illinois where he attended Charleston High School and Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in education from California State University, Northridge and a Master’s Degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

He and his wife Cynthia live in Wilmington, where they raised three sons, Tyler, Seth and Caleb. They also have a a granddaughter, Evelyn Pearl Jenkins.

Jenkins worked as a free-lance music arranger and studio trombonist in Los Angeles. During that time he wrote music for and performed on numerous recording sessions, television shows and films. His musical arrangements and performances have won Grammy, American Music, People’s Choice and Academy Awards.

He retired as an Administrator and Technology Coordinator of the Deer Park School District in Cincinnati.