Thomas E. Hendrickson (2)
Senior Grand Deacon
Tom Hendrickson is a police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department. He has been a cop for 28 years. When Sgt. Roman of the Richfield Police Department came to Tom’s kindergarten class, he knew he wanted to be a policeman. Tom said, “I wanted a job where I could help people in a time of need.”

Tom got involved in DeMolay, Camelot Chapter, because of his younger sister. “My sister was in Job’s Daughters and had a lot of great friends. I was invited to a few functions. I realized that her friends were fun and were of good character. I knew I had to join. I got a lot out of DeMolay. It was a great youth leadership organization.”

Tom signed his petition to the Blue Lodge after high school graduation, just before he enlisted in the Army. When asked why Tom wanted to join Freemasonry, he said, “Besides having a crush on the Zuhrah Shrine Potentate’s daughter and hoping someday to be a Shriner in the motorcycle corps, I wanted to continue to be involved in a fraternity. I wanted to be a Mason, like those men I knew and grew up with.”

In the Army, Tom was a military policeman. “I enjoyed the Army, and I am very proud that I served.” Upon returning home from the Army, he went to college and started his career in law enforcement.

Tom is Past Master and Hiram Award recipient of Cataract Lodge No. 2. He is also a member of the Minneapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite, Order of the Easter Star, Amaranth. Last year, Tom finally found time beyond Blue Lodge and joined the Zuhrah Shrine. He joined the Legion of Honor and the Legion of Honor Degree Team, and he is having a blast. Tom just turned in his petition to join the York Rite.

When he isn’t involved in Masonry or his family, he enjoys shooting and raising money for the Special Olympics. Tom gets physically involved in the fundraising. Two years ago, he took part in the Polar Bear Plunge, where in January he jumped into White Bear Lake – twice!! After he jumped in the first time, he realized he forgot his camera, so he ran and got it, got back in line, and jumped in again. He’s working on another big fundraising project.

When asked to describe his involvement in the Grand Lodge line, he says: “It’s like I’m living a dream. Every day I deal with issues and matters that affect Minnesota Masonry. I love my contacts with all of my brothers in the craft, and I love to immerse myself in all of the special projects that I am assigned to, such as Masonic youth (Job’s Daughters and DeMolay), Operation KidsID, the Minnesota Masonic Historical Society & Museum. This is truly my chance to give back and help make improvements for Masonry for the future. I am truly honored and humbled to be a part of it.”

Tom strongly believes that Masonry is a way of life.