Jerry G. Gantt of Houston is currently serving his fifth year as a member of the Boards of Directors for Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Gantt was re-elected during the Shriners’ 2009 annual international convention – or Imperial Council Session – held in San Antonio July 5-9, as Imperial First Ceremonial Master, part of the 13-member body that helps govern the Shriners fraternity.

Born in Gastonia, N.C., Gantt attended Wingate College in Wingate, N.C., then joined the United States Marine Corps., where he became an air traffic controller. He is now a general contractor.

Raised a Master Mason at Cherryville Lodge #505, Gantt joined Oasis Shriners in Charlotte, N.C., in 1972. He is a member of the York Rite and was honored with the 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite. Gantt joined Arabia Shriners in 1980, where he held numerous offices, including chairman of the Five-year Planning Committee and Potentate in 2002. He is a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor.

Gantt is a chairman emeritus of the Houston Shriners Hospital Board of Governors and has served at the Imperial Level as Outer Guard Aide, Captain of the Guard Aide, Imperial Marshal Aide and member of the Imperial Dispensations and Charters Committee.

Gantt is a past chairman of the board of deacons at Chesnut Ridge Baptist Church. In his community, Gantt and his wife, Lisa, enjoy NASCAR and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with which they are life-members and Gantt is an active committeeman.