The first Knight Commander’s Accolades were awarded by then Knight Commander Henry J. Foresman (Beta Commission–VMI ’41) in 1967. He created the award to recognize excellence in leadership and service to the Order. The Executive Council subsequently passed a regulation creating and defining the award as such and stating that the award is given at the sole discretion of the Knight Commander.
In 1999, Former Knight Commander Dr. Idris R. Traylor, Jr. (Gamma Chi–Texas Tech ’70) designed and the Executive Council authorized the creation of a jewel for this award. The jewel is a crimson cross, outlined in gold, with a golden knight on horseback, centered. It hangs from a ribbon collar of crimson and old gold. The jewel was first presented in 2001.
In more than fifty-five years, seventeen Knight Commanders have conferred this recognition on just two hundred and fifty-five brothers. For comparison, during that same time period, 124,000 brothers have been initiated… Indeed, the Knight Commander’s Accolade is the highest individual honor an alumnus can receive.
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Steven E. Hastings
Beta Epsilon–Delaware, 1970 -
Locke W. Smith, Jr.
Delta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1980 -
Daniel Keith McAfee
Delta Iota–Texas-Arlington, 1984 -
Dwain Paul Knight
Delta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 2004 -
Thomas Ray Murray
Delta Nu–Murray State, 1969 -
Lee P. Oliver III
Kappa–Mercer, 1966 -
MG Robert M. Bunker
Sigma Alpha Commission–USMA, 2012 -
Frederick B. “Trey” Horne III
Alpha Upsilon–University of Mississippi, 2002 -
COL Guy D. Colado
Gamma Pi–Florida Southern College, 1964 -
Toya S. McLeod
Gamma Sigma–West Texas A&M, 2000 -
Eugene M. Julian
Beta Epsilon–Delaware, 1963 -
Mark C. Shuford
Alpha–Washington & Lee, 1979 -
Michael V. Paulin
Beta Sigma–Southern California, 1960 -
Derick S. Close
Alpha Omega–North Carolina State, 1978 -
Henry Dargan McMaster
Rho–South Carolina, 1967 -
Jerome J. Richardson, Sr.
Delta–Wofford, 1957 -
Douglas W. Hanisch
Epsilon Tau–Northern Arizona, 1998 -
H. David Pinson
Epsilon Zeta–Arkansas Tech, 2000 -
Carlton W. Baker
Zeta–Randolph-Macon, 1981 -
Andrew C. West
Epsilon–Emory, 1990 -
Frederick L. Neely, Jr.
Epsilon–Emory, 1963 -
Walter M. Deriso, Jr.
Epsilon–Emory, 1965 -
John A. Montalbano, Jr.
Alpha Gamma–Louisiana State, 1996 -
Dewitt C. David
Gamma Phi–Louisiana-Lafayette, 1963 -
Todd D. Reaves
Nu–Auburn, 1989 -
Max Ray Joyner Jr.
Gamma Rho–East Carolina, 1979 -
David P. Barksdale
Tau–Wake Forest, 1983 -
SGM E. Kent McMichael
Beta Commission–VMI, 1995 -
Dr. Jason R. Barrett
Beta Tau–Mississippi State, 1998 -
King V. Aiken, Jr.
Kappa–Mercer, 1983 -
Dr. Mark D. Hale
Gamma Lambda–North Texas, 1990 -
CPT Ronald C. Plunkett
Theta Commission–Citadel, 2009 -
Norman C. George
Omicron–Texas, 1975 -
Garth K. Dunklin
Upsilon–North Carolina, 1981 -
Robert B. Sullivan
Beta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1966 -
Darron E. Franta
Gamma Tau–Sam Houston State, 1990 -
Darren S. Kay
Alpha Eta–Westminster, 1988 -
Lawrence E. Ault
Delt Delta–East Tennessee State, 1971 -
Eddie S. Wilson
Delta Beta–Delta State, 1973 -
James M. Crews
Gamma Eta–Florida State, 1952 -
W. Reed Sprinkel
Beta Sigma–Southern California, 1941 -
Douglas S. Ewalt
Beta Omega–Washington College, 1971 -
David B. Hagan
Alpha Omega–North Carolina State, 1976 -
John C. Harris
Delta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1985 -
Alfred Diaz, Jr.
Delta Iota–Texas-Arlington, 1984 -
James L. Ferman, Jr.
Epsilon–Emory, 1962 -
Daniel W. Hilsheimer
Beta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1962 -
John B. Chenault
Gamma Upsilon–Texas A&M-Commerce, 1973 -
Samuel O. Leake, Jr.
Beta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1961 -
William A. Wood
Alpha–Washington & Lee, 2003 -
C. Douglas Simmons III
Beta Tau–Mississippi State, 1995 -
Jack B. Carter, II
Nu–Auburn, 1971 -
Rock N. Houstoun
Xi–Southwestern, 1970 -
R. Randolph Beard
Beta Lambda–Southern Methodist, 1957 -
Gregory R. Singleton
Gamma Gamma–Memphis, 1982 -
Dr. Timothy M. Hodges
Beta Commission–VMI, 1980 -
Robert B. Varnado
Alpha Alpha–Univ. of the South, 1987 -
Carl Trauernicht, Jr.
Alpha Eta–Westminster, 1942 -
David M. O’Dell
Delta Gamma–Old Dominion, 1979 -
Lawrence B. Hodges, Jr.
Epsilon Delta–Texas A&M, 1986 -
Marc A. Scott
Gamma Upsilon–Texas A&M-Commerce, 1984 -
Cuyler C. Lawrence
Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1969 -
Walter Jackson Coleman
Sigma–Davidson, 1953 -
Robert M. Ross
Beta Kappa–Maryland, 1968 -
Raymond B. Bottom, Jr.
Alpha Tau–Hampden-Sydney, 1948 -
G. Randall Smith
Iota–Furman, 1959 -
L. Blair Bailey
Gamma Eta–Florida State, 1988 -
Ryan S. Ledwith Sr.
Alpha Xi–California, 1979 -
Dr. Robert F. Padgett
Beta Sigma–Southern California, 1966 -
LTC George B. Pierce
Nu–Auburn, 1947 -
L. Glynn Tubbs
Gamma Nu–Louisiana-Monroe, 1979 -
George G. Langston III
Xi–Southwestern, 1963 -
Russell C. Brown
Delta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1982 -
MG John W. Knapp
Beta Commission–VMI, 1954 -
Todd P. Lowe
Epsilon Theta–Western Kentucky, 1979 -
Walter E. Murphree
Beta Zeta–Florida, 1963 -
Gordon H. Harris
Beta Zeta–Florida, 1957 -
Charles Z. Flack Jr.
Upsilon–North Carolina, 1955 -
James P. Lawson
Delta Delta–East Tennessee State, 1968 -
Dr. Idris Rhea Traylor Jr.
Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1970 -
Dr. James M. “Jim” Schmuck
Alpha Eta–Westminster, 1969 -
Samuel D. Wyche
Iota–Furman, 1966 -
Marshall James “Jim” Donathan Jr.
Alpha Omega–North Carolina State, 1972 -
Stephen E. Foster
Beta Chi–West Virginia Wesleyan, 1968 -
Michael P. Wilson
Alpha Theta–Transylvania, 2000 -
Jesse S. Lyons
Delta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1998 -
Brent W. Fellows
Epsilon Theta–Western Kentucky, 1998 -
J. Michael Duncan
Delta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1969 -
Gerald C. Down
Alpha Xi–California, 1952 -
F. Brook Voght
Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1964 -
Steven M. Steele
Delta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1986 -
David M. Buie
Beta Pi–Presbyterian, 1939 -
Thomas N. Whitehead
Gamma Psi–Northwestern State-Louisiana, 1972 -
C. Edward Schmidt, Jr.
Beta Alpha–Missouri S&T, 1962 -
Larry F. Robb
Gamma Lambda–North Texas, 1963 -
William E. Dreyer
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 1957 -
John G. Deeb
Gamma Kappa–Oklahoma City, 1976 -
Paul C. Artman, Jr.
Delta Beta–Delta State, 1970 -
Clyde E. Williams
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 1935 -
James W. Tiller, Jr.
Gamma Lambda–North Texas, 1962 -
George R. Baffa
Beta Sigma–Southern California, 1957 -
Larry Stanton Wiese
Gamma Omega–Midwestern State, 1987 -
David M. Warren
Tau–Wake Forest, 1978 -
Jon Crosby Turner
Alpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1975 -
Robert D. Kelly
Delta Pi–Missouri Southern State, 1973 -
James W. Grice
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 1987 -
M. Tom Faircloth
Kappa–Mercer, 1961 -
J. David Carico
Epsilon–Emory, 1984 -
Timothy K. Adams
Epsilon–Emory, 1957 -
Jonathan P. Pearson
Rho–South Carolina, 1970 -
H. Clarke Bynum, Jr.
Delta Omicron–Clemson, 1982 -
Wayne E. Dawson
Gamma Epsilon–Arizona, 1960 -
J. Coleman McDowell, Jr.
Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1978 -
LTC Ashley D. Worboys
Delta Psi–Appalachian State, 1987 -
Scott W. Warren
Upsilon–North Carolina, 1981 -
Gordon S. Varnedoe
Epsilon–Emory, 1957 -
Allen I. Vance
Sigma–Davidson, 1950 -
J. Guy Revelle, Jr.
Tau–Wake Forest, 1952 -
Harold L. Cornett, Jr.
Gamma Psi–Northwestern State, 1971 -
William H. Simpson
Tau–Wake Forest, 1946 -
Frank W. Maresh
Omicron–Texas, 1958 -
Dr. James L. Bowers
Beta Omega–Washington College, 1957 -
John A. Yearty
Gamma Eta–Florida State, 1985 -
John F. Truex
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 1942 -
Jeffrey W. Love
Epsilon Rho–Purdue, 1986 -
James T. Turner, Jr.
Kappa–Mercer, 1970 -
Bartley D. Jackson
Beta Gamma–Charleston, 1988 -
Dr. John E. Ross III
Delta Omicron–Clemson, 1971 -
Russell H. Chesley
Beta Sigma–Southern California, 1979 -
Hon. Robert M. Pittenger
Omicron–Texas, 1967 -
F. David Graeber
Omicron–Texas, 1965 -
James W. Boeckman
Alpha Eta–Westminster, 1980 -
David W. Baker
Beta Delta–Georgetown College, 1979 -
Hon. Paul W. Green
Omicron–Texas, 1971 -
Russell L. Creason
Russell L. Creason–William Jewell, 1942 -
Joseph Ray Gill
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 2006 -
Daniel T. Patton
Delta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1974 -
Kriss Parikakis
Delta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1976 -
J. Baxter Wood
Delta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1964 -
SGT Clevie C. Luckadoo Jr.
Delta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1965 -
Barry B. Donnell
Beta Lambda–Southern Methodist, 1958 -
H. Robert Hohenberger Jr.
Omicron–Texas, 1946 -
COL James A. W. Rembert
Theta Comm.–Citadel, 2008 -
Dr. Joel Alan Nickles
Delta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1974 -
Robert T. Steinkamp
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 1964 -
Julian E. Tackett
Alpha Theta–Transylvania, 1980 -
Dr. Garry L. Nall
Gamma Sigma–West Texas A&M, 1971 -
Carlton Mulcahy Rogers
Beta Sigma–Southern California, 1936 -
Burns Landess
Gamma Gamma–Memphis, 1953 -
Perry E. Thoele
Beta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1962 -
Evans Crosby Jackson
Delta Beta–Delta State, 1968 -
William E. Garner
Alpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1981 -
James R. Estes
Alpha Kappa–Missouri, 1960 -
George W. Culler
Beta Iota–Drury, 1922 -
Clinton Bloodworth Newton
Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1945 -
Thomas C. Moxley
Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1950 -
Lawrence W. Gysin
Beta Theta–Washington Univ., 1958 -
David M. Branch
Epsilon Epsilon–California-Riverside, 1981 -
Hugh W. Taylor
Gamma Lambda–North Texas, 1960 -
Douglas C. Stone
Alpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1941 -
John W. Stephenson
Epsilon–Emory, 1967 -
Ben W. Satcher, Jr.
Delta Omicron–Clemson, 1979 -
Dr. Edwin P. Rather
Pi–Tennessee, 1960 -
Jan D. Norris
Gamma Mu–Houston, 1958 -
Dr. O. Hunter McClung Jr.
Beta Comm.–VMI, 1935 -
Kenneth W. Jackson
Delta Tau–Francis Marion, 1981 -
James D. Hunter
Beta Alpha–Missouri S&T, 1962 -
Douglas B. Harris
Delta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1973 -
H. Lynn Greer
Delta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1969 -
William E. Forester
Gamma Gamma–Memphis, 1949 -
David S. Divine
Beta Tau–Mississippi State, 1958 -
Richard A. Barnes
Delta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1969 -
Gregory R. Barbosa
Delta Iota–Texas-Arlington, 1978 -
A. Simpson Williams, Jr.
Eta–Richmond, 1938 -
Daniel B. Waggoner
Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1981 -
Charles L. Newman Jr.
Nu–Auburn, 1947 -
Larry D. Meyers
Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1968 -
Samuel D. Griffin Jr.
Delta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1968 -
Berl B. Garey, Jr.
Gamma Gamma–Memphis, 1951 -
W. Julian Foy
Gamma Psi–Northwestern State, 1972 -
Dr. Frank V. Barchard
Gamma Upsilon–Texas A&M-Commerce, 1971 -
LTC William J. Armstrong
Alpha Epsilon–Rhodes, 1929 -
John E. Simpson III
Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1968 -
Dr. Joseph M. Pearson Jr.
Rho–South Carolina, 1966 -
Thomas Jefferson Curtis
Eta–Richmond, 1942 -
William A. Simpson
Alpha Phi–Duke, 1962 -
Gary T. Scott
Xi–Southwestern, 1963 -
Steven W. Kemble
Epsilon Iota–Texas State, 1979 -
Richard B. Wilson, Jr.
Alpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1958 -
Charles W. McCrary Sr.
Sigma–Davidson, 1921 -
Robert E. Lyon
Pi–Tennessee, 1971 -
Thomas L. Tune, Jr.
Gamma Theta–Univ. of Miami, 1950 -
John R. Milam
Delta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1972 -
Gordon L. Kinne
Gamma Beta–Missouri State, 1973 -
Frederick W. Dismuke Sr.
Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1921 -
Glen O. Alspaugh
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 1930 -
Thomas H. Campbell
Delta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1970 -
Sidney F. Boutwell
Chi–Vanderbilt, 1952 -
COL Hart Slater
Alpha Zeta–William & Mary, 1948 -
Morris W. Pully
Upsilon–North Carolina, 1945 -
COL Lee L. Nichols Jr.
Beta Comm.–VMI, 1948 -
Augustine D. Edwards, Jr.
Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1939 -
William G. Bean Jr.
Alpha–Washington & Lee, 1948 -
Hon. Frank H. Elmore, Jr.
Beta Zeta–Florida, 1922 -
J. Douglass Wallop, Jr.
Beta Kappa–Maryland, 1916 -
Reginald V. Truitt
Beta Kappa–Maryland, 1914 -
Carl J. Rees
Beta Epsilon–Delaware, 1925 -
William V. DeRosa
Alpha Nu–George Washington, 1940 -
Hon. J. Caleb Boggs
Beta Epsilon–Delaware, 1928 -
Ellis S. Womack
Alpha Pi–Stanford, 1929 -
Roy G. Thompson
Alpha Xi–California, 1908 -
Orrin H. Swayze
Alpha Mu–Millsaps, 1923 -
Tom B. Scott, Jr.
Alpha Mu–Millsaps, 1941 -
Charles R. Ridgway III
Alpha Mu–Millsaps, 1932 -
Arthur H. Richardson
Beta Zeta–Florida, 1942 -
BG Ran Larenzo Phillips II, MD
Beta Comm.–VMI, 1954 -
Larry G. Nesbit
Beta Tau–Mississippi State, 1966 -
Alan H. Johnston
Alpha Xi–California, 1918 -
Wilson T. Cann
Alpha Eta–Westminster, 1930 -
James Boyd Campbell
Alpha Mu–Millsaps College, 1950 -
John Wesley Ford
Alpha Sigma–Georgia Institute of Technology, 1949 -
Michael E. Weems
Alpha Mu–Millsaps College, 1968 -
Nat S. Rogers
Alpha Mu–Millsaps, 1938 -
Loren D. Melton
Beta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1921 -
E. Fleming Mason
Beta Pi–Presbyterian, 1929 -
John Rex Farrior Sr.
Beta Zeta–Florida, 1913 -
Jack V. Collins
Gamma Lambda–North Texas, 1953 -
Frank L. Asbury III
Epsilon–Emory, 1944 -
R. Jack Alexander Jr.
Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1946 -
Vance E. Rule
Alpha Delta–William Jewell, 1947 -
William C. Morrow
Beta Nu–1922, Oglethorpe -
Warrick J. Dickson
Alpha Iota–Centenary, 1941 -
Richard T. Willis
Upsilon–North Carolina, 1932 -
Lawrence Willet
Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1913 -
J. Murray Underwood Jr.
Alpha Mu–Millsaps, 1960 -
Joseph T. Lewis Jr.
Alpha Iota–Centenary, 1930 -
Dr. Porter Lee Fortune Jr.
Gamma Zeta–Southern Mississippi, 1954 -
C. Max Farrington
Alpha Eta–Westminster, 1924 -
Geoffrey Creyke Jr.
Alpha Nu–George Washington, 1929 -
George P. Bates Jr.
Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1942 -
Alvin L. Aubinoe
Beta Kappa–Maryland, 1923 -
Edward F. Cave
Beta Kappa–Maryland, 1932 -
E. Francis Cave
Beta Kappa–Maryland, 1932 -
Lawrence E. Honig
Alpha–Washington & Lee, 1967 -
Paul M. Speake
Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1924 -
Herbert Pierce Ford, Sr.
Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1905 -
W. C. Tingle
Alpha Kappa–Missouri, 1920 -
Kenneth P. Craig
Beta Eta–Oklahoma, 1934 -
George H. Covert
Omicron–Texas, 1940 -
Ovid W. Pierce Jr.
Alpha Phi–Duke, 1929 -
Uly S. Gunn II
Gamma–Georgia, 1939 -
Thomas A. Baird
Beta Sigma–Southern California, 1944 -
E. Vernon Lewis
Beta Epsilon–Delaware, 1952 -
Verner H. McCall
Xi–Southwestern, 1911 -
John S. Candler, II
Gamma–Georgia, 1925 -
Frank P. Bowyer, Jr.
Beta Zeta–Florida, 1935 -
Winthrop M. Robinson
Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1919