Date of Institution: October 26, 1945
Date of Charter: July 11, 1946
First Exalted Ruler: E. L. Gavin
Articles about our history (from 75th anniversary).
Additional History:
Sanford Lodge #1679 sponsored Southern Pines Lodge #1692 in December 1945.
Lodge #1679 built on present site in 1958 added 115,000-gallon pool in 1962. Doubled Lodge square footage in 1968 with commercial type Kitchen, Ladies Lounge, larger Club-room, and Lodge Room. Major interior renovation in 1989-90. Major exterior renovation in 1996-97. Parking Lot in 2000. Swimming Pool Bath House and Deck area in 2002. Grill added, Kitchen update, Heating and Air condition Lounge, Pool Furniture, Club Room Furniture 2003-2004-2005.
Lodge #1679 was known for their Ritual Teams and Performances in the late 50’s early 60’s and work with the Elks National Foundation and Scouting Programs in the 60’s and 70’s. Their work with Youth and renewed emphasis was placed on Elks programs; Veterans, Hoop Shoot, Scholarship, Elks National Foundation, Lodge Children’s Activities and the NC Elks State Major Project in 80’s, and continued with all Elks programs and increased Americanism, Soccer Shoot, and Youth Recognition programs in 90’s. The Lodge Membership has increased for 23 straight years [1982-2005].
Lodge #1679 has hosted East Central District Deputy Clinics, District Hoop Shoot Competition, District Soccer Shoot, State Hoop Shoot Competition, State Soccer Shoot Competition, State Ritual Clinic, State Drug Awareness Clinic, and NC Elks Camp Board Meetings in the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s.
During the 1990’s focal point have been fund-raisers in support of North Carolina Elks Camp. Recognized as top contributor to Camp in the 1990’s $100,000. Purchased golf carts, two vans, beds and mattresses for the NC Elks Camp. Our Ladies through an auction funded the Children’s Playground at the Camp in order to enhance the Elks CampAbilites program. After the NCSEA sold the NC Elks the lodge focal point has been on “Veterans” – money for NC State Veterans Home in Fayetteville cable TV and NCSEA to purchase a Handicapped equipped Van for NC State Veterans Home in Salisbury 2003-2004. Lodge purchased another electric wheel chair for NC State Veterans Home 2005.
Lodge #1679 was recognized as the First Lodge in the State to achieve the $1 per member pledged BPOE goal to the World War II Memorial Fund with a lodge $1,000 donation exceeding the pledged amount in 1999.
Past Exalted Ruler, D. Steve Gunter
received the NCSEA 1996 Thad Eure Distinguished Service Award.
Exalted Ruler, William “Bill” Holt III
received the NCSEA 1996-1997 Exalted Ruler of the Year Award.
Exalted Ruler, Scott Pace
received the NCSEA 1999-2000 Exalted Ruler of the Year Award.
Exalted Ruler, Norman Brewer
received the NCSEA 2000-2001 Exalted Ruler of the Year Award.
Exalted Ruler, Joe Clancy
received the NCSEA 2016-2017 Exalted Ruler of the Year Award.
Past Exalted Ruler, Steve Johnson
received the NCSEA 2020 Thad Eure Distinguished Service Award.
Past Exalted Ruler, Addison Johnson
received the NCSEA 2021-2022 Exalted Ruler of the Year Award.
Grand Lodge National Awards won by Sanford lodge:
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 2nd Place 1998 -1999 |
| Americanism Essay Contest Winner | 1st Place 1998 -1999 |
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 1st Place 1999 – 2000 |
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 1st Place 2000 – 2001 |
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 1st Place 2001 – 2002 |
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 1st Place 2002 – 2003 |
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 1st Place 2003 – 2004 |
| Best Lodge Youth Activities Program Winner | 1st Place 2003 – 2004 |
| Best Lodge Youth Activities Brochure Winner | 1st Place 2003 – 2004 |
| Community Service & Image | 1st Place 2003 – 2004 |
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 1st Place 2004 – 2005 |
| Americanism Lodge Brochure Winner | 1st Place 2005 – 2006 |
Exalted Rulers:
| E. L. Gavin | 1945-46 |
| J. C. Pittman | 1946-47 |
| E. M. Underwood, Jr. | 1947-48 |
| J. M. Cheshire | 1948-49 1957-58 |
| Tom Forbes | 1949-50 |
| A. Banks Wilkins | 1950-51 |
| W. H. Cooper, Sr. | 1951-52 |
| H. L. Floyd | 1952-52 |
| Ray Wood | 1953-54 |
| E. C. Roberts | 1954-55 |
| R. P. Rosser | 1955-56 |
| Gordon L. O’Briant | 1956-57 |
| Jules L. Morgan | 1958-59 |
| W. E. Chappell | 1959-60 1980-81 1981-82 |
| W. M. Holt, Jr. | 1960-61 |
| W. E. Johnson | 1961-62 |
| R. L. Miller, Sr. | 1962-63 |
| Perry White | 1963-64 |
| Peyton Williamson | 1964-65 |
| Jack Marshall | 1965-66 |
| James A. Holt | 1966-67 |
| Ed Taylor | 1967-68 1971-72 |
| Harry Miller | 1968-69 |
| Ed L. Foushee, Sr. | 1969-70 |
| William W. Lewis | 1970-71 |
| David D. Riddle, Jr. | 1972-73 |
| J. David Baxter | 1973-74 |
| Jack McIver | 1974-75 |
| H. Lee Littiken | 1975-76 |
| H. W. Hunter, Jr. | 1976-77 1977-78 |
| Glen David lloyd | 1978 [died during term] |
| R. L. Miller, Jr. | 1978-79 1979-80 |
| D. Steve Gunter | 1982-83 1983-84 |
| J. Bion Brewer | 1984-85 1985-86 |
| Joe Clark | 1986-87 |
| L. Chan Heins | 1987-88 |
| Edwin L. Foushee, Jr. | 1988-89 |
| Billy Boaz | 1989-90 |
| William Perry | 1990-91 |
| Bill Cooper, Jr. | 1991-92 |
| Mike Gonella | 1992-93 |
| Bill Davis, III | 1993-94 |
| Rob Pomeranz | 1994-95 |
| Ray Grim | 1995-96 |
| Bill Holt, III | 1996-97 |
| David D. Riddle, III | 1997-98 |
| Steve Williams | 1998-99 |
| Scott Pace | 1999-2000 |
| Norman Brewer | 2000-2001 |
| Mark Brown | 2001-2002 |
| Richard Littiken | 2002-2003 |
| D. Steve Gunter II | 2003-2004 |
| Bill Blair | 2004-2005 |
| Steve Johnson | 2005-2006 |
| Griff Sperry | 2006-2007 |
| Vince Wenger | 2007-2008 |
| Wallie Tyler | 2008-2009 |
| Mike McGraw | 2009-10 2010-11 |
| Kevin Cleary | 2010-2012 |
| Eddie Brannan | 2012-2013 |
| Mike McGraw | 2013-2014 |
| Ed Wesley | 2014-2015 |
| Joe Clancy | 2016-2017 |
| Kevin Cleary | 2017-2018, 2018-2019 |
| Nathan Cochrane | 2019-2020 |
|
Chris Setzer Addison Johnson |
2020-2021 2021-2022 |
District Deputies:
| Harold B. Floyd | Central District 1953-54 |
| J. Milton Cheshire | Central District 1958-59 |
| D. Steve Gunter | East Central District 1985-86 |
| H. Lee Littiken | East Central District 1994-95 |
| David D. Riddle, III | East Central District 2000-01 |
| Scott Pace | East Central District 2003-04 |
| Norman Brewer | East Central District 2004-05 |
| Steve Gunter, II | East Central District 2008-09 |
| Steve Johnson | East Central District 2017-2018 |
| Joe Clancy | East Central District 2019-2020 |
NCSEA President Past Exalted Rulers Association:
| H. Lee Littiken | 1996-97 |
| Norman Brewer | 2012-2013 |
NCSEA State President:
| D. Steve Gunter | 1988-1989 |
| H. Lee Littiken | 2004-2005 |
| Scott Pace | 2008-2009 |
Grand Lodge Committees:
| D. Steve Gunter | 1995-96-97 Americanism 1997-98-99 Chairman |
| D. Steve Gunter | 1999-00-04 Coordinator National WWII Memorial Fund |
| D. Steve Gunter | 1999-00 Coordinator Hurricane Floyd Disaster Relief Fund |
Grand Lodge special representative:
| D. Steve Gunter | 1991-2006 |
| H. Lee Littiken | 2006-2007 |
| D. Steve Gunter | 2006-2007 |
| H. Lee Littiken | 2009-2010 |