Lewis E. "Red" Kittell, 32°, K.C.C.H. Personal Representative, Reno, Nevada, Scottish Rite Bodies 3605 Cashill Boulevard, Reno, Nevada 89509–7401

For many years Brother Rist has dedicated himself and his artistic talents to our Fraternal Order. He has endowed the Nevada Scottish Rite Foundation with thousands of dollars by donating his valuable artwork to the Reno Nevada Scottish Rite Bodies, which have had no difficulties finding eager buyers.

Tony somehow manages to infuse the pulse of life and the depth of nature into his paintings and sculptures. Never has this been more evident than it was on January 10, 2001, when he uncovered his latest masterpiece to an awestruck crowd of Scottish Rite members, their families, and guests. It is a 5'2" high hand-carved Scottish Rite two-headed eagle.

Admiral William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director, and his son, United States Navy Commander William G. Sizemore II, 33°, presently serving as Department Head for Top Gun Training at Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nevada, were present at the unveiling of the majestic sculpture. They, too, were overwhelmed by the magnitude and realistic features of the statue.

Thunderous applause was punctuated by hundreds of camera flashes as the curtain opened to reveal Tony's work. When Brethren and guests lined up for a closer look, it was interesting to observe people cautiously touching the feathers to determine if they were real or carved.

Bro. Rist was born in Fullerton, California, in 1944. He attended schools in Ventura, California. Following four years active duty in the United States Navy, Tony chose a profession in auto body repair, eventually opening his own business in Sepulveda, California. Tony took his initial Masonic obligation in Magnolia Park Lodge No. 618 in 1972, eventually becoming its Worshipful Master. He maintains membership in his California Mother Lodge and is currently active in Centennial Lodge No. 47, where he also served as Worshipful Master, and Carson Lodge No. 1, both located in Carson City, Nevada, where he and Betty, his spouse of 31 years, decided to semi-retire.

In the Valley of Reno, Nevada, Brother Lewis A. "Tony" Rist, 32°, K.C.C.H., puts a finishing touch to his remarkable statue of the Scottish Rite's double-headed eagle.

Currently, Bro. Rist is Venerable Master of the Reno Valley Lodge of Perfection. In between his active Masonic life and the creation of award-winning wood sculptures and oil paintings in his backyard studio, he is a full-time college student majoring in computer assisted drafting (CAD).

When asked as to the difficulties encountered in the five-year Scottish Rite Eagle project, Tony said, "What difficulties? I simply took a large quantity of wood and carved away everything that didn't look like a double-headed eagle."

On January 10, 2001, several Masonic dignitaries were present in Reno, Nevada, to witness the first exhibition of the beautiful Scottish Rite double-headed eagle wood sculpture carved by Bro. Lewis A. "Tony" Rist, 32°, K.C.C.H. Pictured at the ceremony are (l. to r.): M.W. Gordon F. Wessell, 33°, Grand Master, Nevada; Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director; Bro. Lewis A. "Tony" Rist, 32°, K.C.C.H., artist of the eagle; and Ill. David J. Morgan, 33°, Deputy of the Supreme Council, 33°, in Nevada.

As the evening ended, the Scottish Rite Eagle, its perch mounted on castors, was wheeled into the Nevada Grand Lodge Library for security. Ill. David J. Morgan, 33°, Deputy of the Supreme Council in Nevada, surmised that the beautiful winged creature might, if not confined, otherwise attempt to fly back with Admiral Sizemore to the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C.

When visiting anywhere near Northern Nevada, it will be worth your effort to visit the downtown Masonic building to view this impressive work of art. It is truly "The Rite Stuff."