Eugene Thomas "Tom" Ferrell III
Potentate

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 and Mount Olive College in 1983.  He continued his education at North Carolina State University until his father’s illness required him to return home to take over the family business operations. He is the President/General Manager of a four-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.

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Tom is married to the former Ruth (Milly) Maxwell.  They have three grown sons, Thomas (Rachel), Sam, and Jake who are all Shrine Masons.  Tom and his sons are also Eagle Scouts and he currently serves on the Wayne County Eagle Scout Review Board.  He is a retired Mt. Olive Volunteer Fireman, a “Rooster” member of the Mt. Olive Jaycees and a member of the Goldsboro Elks Lodge. 

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Tom was raised a Master Mason in 1988 in Mt. Olive Lodge 208, Mt. Olive, NC.  He served as Master of his lodge in 1993 and again in 2018.  In May 1988 he joined Sudan Shriners and crossed the Hot Sands in Wilmington, NC.  He is a Scottish Rite Mason and former member of the 29th degree team in Wilmington.  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.  He served as the Director of the Wrecking Crew in 2005 and 2006 and won first place in the National Stunt Competition among Director’s Staffs 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 served as MC of the Second Section of Sudan Ceremonials for 10 years. Tom is past member of the Wayne Shrine Club Board of Directors, serving as President in 2010 and 2011 and as Hospital Patient Chairman.

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Tom is truly honored to have served on the Sudan Divan since 2016 and looks forward to continuing to serve our Masonic Fraternity and Shriners Children’s as Sudan Shriners Potentate for 2025.