A pause for Rememberance - Jimmie Hobaugh

I don't make it a habit of recognizing every Brother that passes away, but today is a special instance.  You see, Jimmie Hobaugh of Sault Ste Marie passed away. First my heart is heavy for Virginia and the Children.  You see he was a bit more than the ordinary man.  Quiet, yet commanding.  He was a 33rd Degree Mason, served as Deputy's representative in the Valley of Marquettte Scottish Rite, and was Treasurer of his Lodge longer than I can remember.  His heart beat strong for the call of the Children in the Shrine Hospitals, and was always at the lead when it came to the Circuses, the Transportation Fund raisers and anything to do with making the world just a bit easier for the kids. He was Potentate of Ahmed Shriners.

But there's another side to Jimmie most have never heard.  He raised a son, Charles Hobaugh, who is an Astronaut.  Raised by a man who was Captain of a ship himself.  You see, Jimmie served in the Coast Guard as Captain of the Woodrush, the ship that was first on the scene to rescue the Edmund Fitzgerald on a November Day of 1975. As Captain Hobaugh tells the story, the alarms went off, all hands were on deck, and as they left Duluth they thought it may be a joke.  The waters were calm and it appeared nothing was happening in the "Big Lake", until they rounded the point at Keweenaw Peninsula, where, as Jimmie used to say, "All Hell broke loose"  Lake Superior unleashed a fury he had never experienced before, and when he and his crew showed up on the scene some 13 hours into the mission, nothing was found of the wrecked ship that became legendary by Gordon Lightfoot's music. A man who served. A Mason of the craft.

Rest well my Dear Illustrious Brother, soft and safe be your journey to the other shore, this Grand Master will miss you......