Eugene Thomas "Tom" Ferrell III
Chief Rabban

Eugene Thomas “Tom” Ferrell III was born on July 12, 1963 to Tommie and Goldie Ferrell. His father was a Mason and Sudan Shriner.  Tom graduated from Southern Wayne High School in 1981, Mount Olive College in 1983 and was continuing his education at North Carolina State University when his father’s illness required him to return home to take over the family business operations. He is the President/General Manager of a third generation family business, E.T. Ferrell & Son - Plumbing & Heating Company, founded in 1935 by his grandfather.  He is a licensed Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Contractor.

He is married to the former Ruth (Milly) Maxwell.  They have three grown sons, Thomas, Sam, and Jake.  Tom became an Eagle Scout in 1977 and his three sons have followed their father’s footsteps also becoming Eagle Scouts.  Tom is a former Scoutmaster and currently serves on the Wayne County Eagle Scout Review Board.  He is a retired Volunteer Fireman from the Mount Olive Volunteer Fire Department, a “Rooster” member of the Mount Olive Jaycees and a member of the Goldsboro Elks Lodge.  His family attends the First Baptist Church in Mount Olive.

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Tom’s Masonic journey started in 1988 being raised to the sublimed degree of a Master Mason in Mount Olive Masonic Lodge #208, AF & AM.  He served as Master of his lodge in 1993.  In May 1988, he crossed Sudan’s Hot Sands in Wilmington, NC. He is a 32 Degree Scottish Rite Mason and serves the Wilmington Consistory 29th degree team.  In 1989 he co-founded the Shriners Fish Fry in Mt. Olive. In 1999, he was initiated into the New Bern Court 145, Royal Order of Jesters.   

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Tom began working with the Sudan Wrecking Crew in November 1988 and has never missed a Sudan Ceremonial since joining.  He was Director of the Wrecking Crew in 2005 and 2006 and won first place in the National Stunt Competition among Director’s Staff in 2007. Tom was elected to serve on the Board of Governors of the Shrine Directors Association of North America for 4 terms (2007-2015) and was responsible for all Shrine temples in North & South Carolina and Georgia.  He has been the MC of the Second Section of Sudan Ceremonials for 10 years. Tom is past member of the Wayne Shrine Club Board of Directors, Hospital Patient Chairman and President in 2010 and 2011.

Tom is truly humbled and honored having been selected to serve on the Sudan Divan. He looks forward to continuing to serve our Masonic Fraternity, Shriners International and most importantly the Children who can benefit from our services.