Algie S. Oldham Sr., a nationally known Masonic leader and educator from Indiana, died in Indianapolis recently at age 83. Services were held at Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery on Jan. 21.
Oldham, one of the highest-ranking Masons in the country, was listed as one of Ebony Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Black Americans in 2005 and 2006.
At the time of his death, Oldham was serving as Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council for the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction, USA Inc.) He was elected to the position in 2004.
He was only the second Hoosier to hold the prestigious office of Sovereign Grand Commander. The first from the state was Sumner A. Furniss, also of Indianapolis, who served as sovereign grand commander from 1921 to 1949.
Oldham began his service as a Masonic leader in 1965, when he was elected Worshipful Master of St. Peter’s Lodge #31, F.&A.M. of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana.
Throughout the years he served in other offices, such as active member of the United Supreme Council (1980), Illustrious Overseer for the Orient of Indiana (1985), Grand Minister of State (1992) and Lieutenant Grand Commander (1998).
“I am grateful, indeed, for the high measure of understanding and support which has been given me. I’ve met so many wonderful people in our Masonic family,” Oldham told supporters during a ceremony held in his honor in Indianapolis by the United Supreme Council in 2005.
Although he lived in Indianapolis at the time of his death, Oldham also was well known as a longtime educator in South Bend, where he was an administrator at three schools before being appointed principal of Riley High School, where he worked from 1975 to his retirement in 1989.
A memorial page launched in his memory received more than 700 members within a day of his death, with many remembering him as a decent man and fair educator.
“He was a very nice and understanding person,” said Cindy Rackley of South Bend. “He always had time to talk to you, whether it was a problem at school or home.”
Oldham was inducted into the South Bend Hall of Fame in 1993. Other organizations and agencies Oldham was actively involved in included Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the NAACP, the Rotary Club, the Urban League, the South Bend Police Merit Board and the South Bend Board of Zoning Appeals and Northminster Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.
His awards and honors include the Honorary Pastor Potentate degree (1981), the Honorary Past Imperial Potentate degree (1991) and the Gold Advancement Medical Award (the highest Scottish Rite Award for advancement) in 1999.
A native of Dyersburg, Tenn., Oldham served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict from 1950 to 1952, obtaining the rank of supply sergeant in the transportation corps.
Oldham’s immediate family included his wife, Sarah, daughter, Roslynn (Lancaster), son, Bryan, and three grandchildren, Jonathan, Lauren and Sydney.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Algie S. Oldham Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 781132, Indianapolis, Ind., 46278.
