The first Knight Commander’s Accolades were awarded by then Knight Commander Henry J. Foresman (Beta Commission–VMI ’41) in 1967. He created the award to recognize excellence in leadership and service to the Order. The Executive Council subsequently passed a regulation creating and defining the award as such and stating that the award is given at the sole discretion of the Knight Commander.
In 1999, Former Knight Commander Dr. Idris R. Traylor, Jr. (Gamma Chi–Texas Tech ’70) designed and the Executive Council authorized the creation of a jewel for this award. The jewel is a crimson cross, outlined in gold, with a golden knight on horseback, centered. It hangs from a ribbon collar of crimson and old gold. The jewel was first presented in 2001.
In more than fifty-five years, seventeen Knight Commanders have conferred this recognition on just two hundred and fifty-five brothers. For comparison, during that same time period, 124,000 brothers have been initiated… Indeed, the Knight Commander’s Accolade is the highest individual honor an alumnus can receive.
- 
							  Steven E. HastingsBeta Epsilon–Delaware, 1970
- 
							  Locke W. Smith, Jr.Delta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1980
- 
							  Daniel Keith McAfeeDelta Iota–Texas-Arlington, 1984
- 
							  Dwain Paul KnightDelta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 2004
- 
							  Thomas Ray MurrayDelta Nu–Murray State, 1969
- 
							  Lee P. Oliver IIIKappa–Mercer, 1966
- 
							  MG Robert M. BunkerSigma Alpha Commission–USMA, 2012
- 
							  Frederick B. “Trey” Horne IIIAlpha Upsilon–University of Mississippi, 2002
- 
							  COL Guy D. ColadoGamma Pi–Florida Southern College, 1964
- 
							  Toya S. McLeodGamma Sigma–West Texas A&M, 2000
- 
							  Eugene M. JulianBeta Epsilon–Delaware, 1963
- 
							  Mark C. ShufordAlpha–Washington & Lee, 1979
- 
							  Michael V. PaulinBeta Sigma–Southern California, 1960
- 
							  Derick S. CloseAlpha Omega–North Carolina State, 1978
- 
							  Henry Dargan McMasterRho–South Carolina, 1967
- 
							  Jerome J. Richardson, Sr.Delta–Wofford, 1957
- 
							  Douglas W. HanischEpsilon Tau–Northern Arizona, 1998
- 
							  H. David PinsonEpsilon Zeta–Arkansas Tech, 2000
- 
							  Carlton W. BakerZeta–Randolph-Macon, 1981
- 
							  Andrew C. WestEpsilon–Emory, 1990
- 
							  Frederick L. Neely, Jr.Epsilon–Emory, 1963
- 
							  Walter M. Deriso, Jr.Epsilon–Emory, 1965
- 
							  John A. Montalbano, Jr.Alpha Gamma–Louisiana State, 1996
- 
							  Dewitt C. DavidGamma Phi–Louisiana-Lafayette, 1963
- 
							  Todd D. ReavesNu–Auburn, 1989
- 
							  Max Ray Joyner Jr.Gamma Rho–East Carolina, 1979
- 
							  David P. BarksdaleTau–Wake Forest, 1983
- 
							  SGM E. Kent McMichaelBeta Commission–VMI, 1995
- 
							  Dr. Jason R. BarrettBeta Tau–Mississippi State, 1998
- 
							  King V. Aiken, Jr.Kappa–Mercer, 1983
- 
							  Dr. Mark D. HaleGamma Lambda–North Texas, 1990
- 
							  CPT Ronald C. PlunkettTheta Commission–Citadel, 2009
- 
							  Norman C. GeorgeOmicron–Texas, 1975
- 
							  Garth K. DunklinUpsilon–North Carolina, 1981
- 
							  Robert B. SullivanBeta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1966
- 
							  Darron E. FrantaGamma Tau–Sam Houston State, 1990
- 
							  Darren S. KayAlpha Eta–Westminster, 1988
- 
							  Lawrence E. AultDelt Delta–East Tennessee State, 1971
- 
							  Eddie S. WilsonDelta Beta–Delta State, 1973
- 
							  James M. CrewsGamma Eta–Florida State, 1952
- 
							  W. Reed SprinkelBeta Sigma–Southern California, 1941
- 
							  Douglas S. EwaltBeta Omega–Washington College, 1971
- 
							  David B. HaganAlpha Omega–North Carolina State, 1976
- 
							  John C. HarrisDelta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1985
- 
							  Alfred Diaz, Jr.Delta Iota–Texas-Arlington, 1984
- 
							  James L. Ferman, Jr.Epsilon–Emory, 1962
- 
							  Daniel W. HilsheimerBeta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1962
- 
							  John B. ChenaultGamma Upsilon–Texas A&M-Commerce, 1973
- 
							  Samuel O. Leake, Jr.Beta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1961
- 
							  William A. WoodAlpha–Washington & Lee, 2003
- 
							  C. Douglas Simmons IIIBeta Tau–Mississippi State, 1995
- 
							  Jack B. Carter, IINu–Auburn, 1971
- 
							  Rock N. HoustounXi–Southwestern, 1970
- 
							  R. Randolph BeardBeta Lambda–Southern Methodist, 1957
- 
							  Gregory R. SingletonGamma Gamma–Memphis, 1982
- 
							  Dr. Timothy M. HodgesBeta Commission–VMI, 1980
- 
							  Robert B. VarnadoAlpha Alpha–Univ. of the South, 1987
- 
							  Carl Trauernicht, Jr.Alpha Eta–Westminster, 1942
- 
							  David M. O’DellDelta Gamma–Old Dominion, 1979
- 
							  Lawrence B. Hodges, Jr.Epsilon Delta–Texas A&M, 1986
- 
							  Marc A. ScottGamma Upsilon–Texas A&M-Commerce, 1984
- 
							  Cuyler C. LawrenceGamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1969
- 
							  Walter Jackson ColemanSigma–Davidson, 1953
- 
							  Robert M. RossBeta Kappa–Maryland, 1968
- 
							  Raymond B. Bottom, Jr.Alpha Tau–Hampden-Sydney, 1948
- 
							  G. Randall SmithIota–Furman, 1959
- 
							  L. Blair BaileyGamma Eta–Florida State, 1988
- 
							  Ryan S. Ledwith Sr.Alpha Xi–California, 1979
- 
							  Dr. Robert F. PadgettBeta Sigma–Southern California, 1966
- 
							  LTC George B. PierceNu–Auburn, 1947
- 
							  L. Glynn TubbsGamma Nu–Louisiana-Monroe, 1979
- 
							  George G. Langston IIIXi–Southwestern, 1963
- 
							  Russell C. BrownDelta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1982
- 
							  MG John W. KnappBeta Commission–VMI, 1954
- 
							  Todd P. LoweEpsilon Theta–Western Kentucky, 1979
- 
							  Walter E. MurphreeBeta Zeta–Florida, 1963
- 
							  Gordon H. HarrisBeta Zeta–Florida, 1957
- 
							  Charles Z. Flack Jr.Upsilon–North Carolina, 1955
- 
							  James P. LawsonDelta Delta–East Tennessee State, 1968
- 
							  Dr. Idris Rhea Traylor Jr.Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1970
- 
							  Dr. James M. “Jim” SchmuckAlpha Eta–Westminster, 1969
- 
							  Samuel D. WycheIota–Furman, 1966
- 
							  Marshall James “Jim” Donathan Jr.Alpha Omega–North Carolina State, 1972
- 
							  Stephen E. FosterBeta Chi–West Virginia Wesleyan, 1968
- 
							  Michael P. WilsonAlpha Theta–Transylvania, 2000
- 
							  Jesse S. LyonsDelta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1998
- 
							  Brent W. FellowsEpsilon Theta–Western Kentucky, 1998
- 
							  J. Michael DuncanDelta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1969
- 
							  Gerald C. DownAlpha Xi–California, 1952
- 
							  F. Brook VoghtAlpha Beta–Alabama, 1964
- 
							  Steven M. SteeleDelta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1986
- 
							  David M. BuieBeta Pi–Presbyterian, 1939
- 
							  Thomas N. WhiteheadGamma Psi–Northwestern State-Louisiana, 1972
- 
							  C. Edward Schmidt, Jr.Beta Alpha–Missouri S&T, 1962
- 
							  Larry F. RobbGamma Lambda–North Texas, 1963
- 
							  William E. DreyerAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 1957
- 
							  John G. DeebGamma Kappa–Oklahoma City, 1976
- 
							  Paul C. Artman, Jr.Delta Beta–Delta State, 1970
- 
							  Clyde E. WilliamsAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 1935
- 
							  James W. Tiller, Jr.Gamma Lambda–North Texas, 1962
- 
							  George R. BaffaBeta Sigma–Southern California, 1957
- 
							  Larry Stanton WieseGamma Omega–Midwestern State, 1987
- 
							  David M. WarrenTau–Wake Forest, 1978
- 
							  Jon Crosby TurnerAlpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1975
- 
							  Robert D. KellyDelta Pi–Missouri Southern State, 1973
- 
							  James W. GriceAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 1987
- 
							  M. Tom FairclothKappa–Mercer, 1961
- 
							  J. David CaricoEpsilon–Emory, 1984
- 
							  Timothy K. AdamsEpsilon–Emory, 1957
- 
							  Jonathan P. PearsonRho–South Carolina, 1970
- 
							  H. Clarke Bynum, Jr.Delta Omicron–Clemson, 1982
- 
							  Wayne E. DawsonGamma Epsilon–Arizona, 1960
- 
							  J. Coleman McDowell, Jr.Gamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1978
- 
							  LTC Ashley D. WorboysDelta Psi–Appalachian State, 1987
- 
							  Scott W. WarrenUpsilon–North Carolina, 1981
- 
							  Gordon S. VarnedoeEpsilon–Emory, 1957
- 
							  Allen I. VanceSigma–Davidson, 1950
- 
							  J. Guy Revelle, Jr.Tau–Wake Forest, 1952
- 
							  Harold L. Cornett, Jr.Gamma Psi–Northwestern State, 1971
- 
							  William H. SimpsonTau–Wake Forest, 1946
- 
							  Frank W. MareshOmicron–Texas, 1958
- 
							  Dr. James L. BowersBeta Omega–Washington College, 1957
- 
							  John A. YeartyGamma Eta–Florida State, 1985
- 
							  John F. TruexAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 1942
- 
							  Jeffrey W. LoveEpsilon Rho–Purdue, 1986
- 
							  James T. Turner, Jr.Kappa–Mercer, 1970
- 
							  Bartley D. JacksonBeta Gamma–Charleston, 1988
- 
							  Dr. John E. Ross IIIDelta Omicron–Clemson, 1971
- 
							  Russell H. ChesleyBeta Sigma–Southern California, 1979
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							  Hon. Robert M. PittengerOmicron–Texas, 1967
- 
							  F. David GraeberOmicron–Texas, 1965
- 
							  James W. BoeckmanAlpha Eta–Westminster, 1980
- 
							  David W. BakerBeta Delta–Georgetown College, 1979
- 
							  Hon. Paul W. GreenOmicron–Texas, 1971
- 
							  Russell L. CreasonRussell L. Creason–William Jewell, 1942
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							  Joseph Ray GillAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 2006
- 
							  Daniel T. PattonDelta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1974
- 
							  Kriss ParikakisDelta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1976
- 
							  J. Baxter WoodDelta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1964
- 
							  SGT Clevie C. Luckadoo Jr.Delta Alpha–Western Carolina, 1965
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							  Barry B. DonnellBeta Lambda–Southern Methodist, 1958
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							  H. Robert Hohenberger Jr.Omicron–Texas, 1946
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							  COL James A. W. RembertTheta Comm.–Citadel, 2008
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							  Dr. Joel Alan NicklesDelta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1974
- 
							  Robert T. SteinkampAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 1964
- 
							  Julian E. TackettAlpha Theta–Transylvania, 1980
- 
							  Dr. Garry L. NallGamma Sigma–West Texas A&M, 1971
- 
							  Carlton Mulcahy RogersBeta Sigma–Southern California, 1936
- 
							  Burns LandessGamma Gamma–Memphis, 1953
- 
							  Perry E. ThoeleBeta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1962
- 
							  Evans Crosby JacksonDelta Beta–Delta State, 1968
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							  William E. GarnerAlpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1981
- 
							  James R. EstesAlpha Kappa–Missouri, 1960
- 
							  George W. CullerBeta Iota–Drury, 1922
- 
							  Clinton Bloodworth NewtonAlpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1945
- 
							  Thomas C. MoxleyAlpha Beta–Alabama, 1950
- 
							  Lawrence W. GysinBeta Theta–Washington Univ., 1958
- 
							  David M. BranchEpsilon Epsilon–California-Riverside, 1981
- 
							  Hugh W. TaylorGamma Lambda–North Texas, 1960
- 
							  Douglas C. StoneAlpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1941
- 
							  John W. StephensonEpsilon–Emory, 1967
- 
							  Ben W. Satcher, Jr.Delta Omicron–Clemson, 1979
- 
							  Dr. Edwin P. RatherPi–Tennessee, 1960
- 
							  Jan D. NorrisGamma Mu–Houston, 1958
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							  Dr. O. Hunter McClung Jr.Beta Comm.–VMI, 1935
- 
							  Kenneth W. JacksonDelta Tau–Francis Marion, 1981
- 
							  James D. HunterBeta Alpha–Missouri S&T, 1962
- 
							  Douglas B. HarrisDelta Sigma–Houston Baptist, 1973
- 
							  H. Lynn GreerDelta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1969
- 
							  William E. ForesterGamma Gamma–Memphis, 1949
- 
							  David S. DivineBeta Tau–Mississippi State, 1958
- 
							  Richard A. BarnesDelta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1969
- 
							  Gregory R. BarbosaDelta Iota–Texas-Arlington, 1978
- 
							  A. Simpson Williams, Jr.Eta–Richmond, 1938
- 
							  Daniel B. WaggonerGamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1981
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							  Charles L. Newman Jr.Nu–Auburn, 1947
- 
							  Larry D. MeyersGamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1968
- 
							  Samuel D. Griffin Jr.Delta Kappa–Stephen F. Austin State, 1968
- 
							  Berl B. Garey, Jr.Gamma Gamma–Memphis, 1951
- 
							  W. Julian FoyGamma Psi–Northwestern State, 1972
- 
							  Dr. Frank V. BarchardGamma Upsilon–Texas A&M-Commerce, 1971
- 
							  LTC William J. ArmstrongAlpha Epsilon–Rhodes, 1929
- 
							  John E. Simpson IIIGamma Chi–Texas Tech, 1968
- 
							  Dr. Joseph M. Pearson Jr.Rho–South Carolina, 1966
- 
							  Thomas Jefferson CurtisEta–Richmond, 1942
- 
							  William A. SimpsonAlpha Phi–Duke, 1962
- 
							  Gary T. ScottXi–Southwestern, 1963
- 
							  Steven W. KembleEpsilon Iota–Texas State, 1979
- 
							  Richard B. Wilson, Jr.Alpha Upsilon–Mississippi, 1958
- 
							  Charles W. McCrary Sr.Sigma–Davidson, 1921
- 
							  Robert E. LyonPi–Tennessee, 1971
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							  Thomas L. Tune, Jr.Gamma Theta–Univ. of Miami, 1950
- 
							  John R. MilamDelta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1972
- 
							  Gordon L. KinneGamma Beta–Missouri State, 1973
- 
							  Frederick W. Dismuke Sr.Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1921
- 
							  Glen O. AlspaughAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 1930
- 
							  Thomas H. CampbellDelta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State, 1970
- 
							  Sidney F. BoutwellChi–Vanderbilt, 1952
- 
							  COL Hart SlaterAlpha Zeta–William & Mary, 1948
- 
							  Morris W. PullyUpsilon–North Carolina, 1945
- 
							  COL Lee L. Nichols Jr.Beta Comm.–VMI, 1948
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							  Augustine D. Edwards, Jr.Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1939
- 
							  William G. Bean Jr.Alpha–Washington & Lee, 1948
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							  Hon. Frank H. Elmore, Jr.Beta Zeta–Florida, 1922
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							  J. Douglass Wallop, Jr.Beta Kappa–Maryland, 1916
- 
							  Reginald V. TruittBeta Kappa–Maryland, 1914
- 
							  Carl J. ReesBeta Epsilon–Delaware, 1925
- 
							  William V. DeRosaAlpha Nu–George Washington, 1940
- 
							  Hon. J. Caleb BoggsBeta Epsilon–Delaware, 1928
- 
							  Ellis S. WomackAlpha Pi–Stanford, 1929
- 
							  Roy G. ThompsonAlpha Xi–California, 1908
- 
							  Orrin H. SwayzeAlpha Mu–Millsaps, 1923
- 
							  Tom B. Scott, Jr.Alpha Mu–Millsaps, 1941
- 
							  Charles R. Ridgway IIIAlpha Mu–Millsaps, 1932
- 
							  Arthur H. RichardsonBeta Zeta–Florida, 1942
- 
							  BG Ran Larenzo Phillips II, MDBeta Comm.–VMI, 1954
- 
							  Larry G. NesbitBeta Tau–Mississippi State, 1966
- 
							  Alan H. JohnstonAlpha Xi–California, 1918
- 
							  Wilson T. CannAlpha Eta–Westminster, 1930
- 
							  James Boyd CampbellAlpha Mu–Millsaps College, 1950
- 
							  John Wesley FordAlpha Sigma–Georgia Institute of Technology, 1949
- 
							  Michael E. WeemsAlpha Mu–Millsaps College, 1968
- 
							  Nat S. RogersAlpha Mu–Millsaps, 1938
- 
							  Loren D. MeltonBeta Xi–Oklahoma State, 1921
- 
							  E. Fleming MasonBeta Pi–Presbyterian, 1929
- 
							  John Rex Farrior Sr.Beta Zeta–Florida, 1913
- 
							  Jack V. CollinsGamma Lambda–North Texas, 1953
- 
							  Frank L. Asbury IIIEpsilon–Emory, 1944
- 
							  R. Jack Alexander Jr.Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1946
- 
							  Vance E. RuleAlpha Delta–William Jewell, 1947
- 
							  William C. MorrowBeta Nu–1922, Oglethorpe
- 
							  Warrick J. DicksonAlpha Iota–Centenary, 1941
- 
							  Richard T. WillisUpsilon–North Carolina, 1932
- 
							  Lawrence WilletAlpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1913
- 
							  J. Murray Underwood Jr.Alpha Mu–Millsaps, 1960
- 
							  Joseph T. Lewis Jr.Alpha Iota–Centenary, 1930
- 
							  Dr. Porter Lee Fortune Jr.Gamma Zeta–Southern Mississippi, 1954
- 
							  C. Max FarringtonAlpha Eta–Westminster, 1924
- 
							  Geoffrey Creyke Jr.Alpha Nu–George Washington, 1929
- 
							  George P. Bates Jr.Alpha Sigma–Georgia Tech, 1942
- 
							  Alvin L. AubinoeBeta Kappa–Maryland, 1923
- 
							  Edward F. CaveBeta Kappa–Maryland, 1932
- 
							  E. Francis CaveBeta Kappa–Maryland, 1932
- 
							  Lawrence E. HonigAlpha–Washington & Lee, 1967
- 
							  Paul M. SpeakeAlpha Beta–Alabama, 1924
- 
							  Herbert Pierce Ford, Sr.Alpha Beta–Alabama, 1905
- 
							  W. C. TingleAlpha Kappa–Missouri, 1920
- 
							  Kenneth P. CraigBeta Eta–Oklahoma, 1934
- 
							  George H. CovertOmicron–Texas, 1940
- 
							  Ovid W. Pierce Jr.Alpha Phi–Duke, 1929
- 
							  Uly S. Gunn IIGamma–Georgia, 1939
- 
							  Thomas A. BairdBeta Sigma–Southern California, 1944
- 
							  E. Vernon LewisBeta Epsilon–Delaware, 1952
- 
							  Verner H. McCallXi–Southwestern, 1911
- 
							  John S. Candler, IIGamma–Georgia, 1925
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							  Frank P. Bowyer, Jr.Beta Zeta–Florida, 1935
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							  Winthrop M. RobinsonAlpha Beta–Alabama, 1919
