SK Martin R. Trent
R.E. DEPARTMENT COMMANDER
EAST CENTRAL DEPARTMENT: IN, IL, KY, MI, and OH
Sir Knight Trent was born in Dayton, Ohio, and later moved to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he graduated from high school. He was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Philosophy from Wittenberg University and a Master’s from the Air Force Institute of Technology. The U.S. Air Force has employed him for more than 30 years, and he is a senior procurement manager.
He married his high school sweetheart, Bonita, in 1989, and they have three grown children (Zeb, Anna, and Katie). He is a member of the First Lutheran Church of Springfield. In addition to his fraternal pursuits, he enjoys reading, walking, movies, traveling, playing cards, and golf.
Sir Knight Trent was raised in St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 619 in 1992, served as Worshipful Master in 1997, and has been Secretary since 1997. He also served the Grand Lodge of Ohio as a District Deputy Grand Master in 2001-2003. He is a Past Sovereign Prince of Miami Council, Princes of Jerusalem, in the Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton, and was coroneted a 33rd Degree Mason in Washington, D.C. in 2013. He is active in the Springfield and Urbana York Rite bodies and is a Knight York Grand Cross of Honour, a Companion of the Secret Vault, and a Knight Commander of the Temple. He served the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Ohio as its Grand Commander in 2018-2019. Sir Knight Trent is also a member of the Tall Cedars, Eastern Star, Shrine, Allied Masonic Degrees, Order of Athelstan, Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, Red Cross of Constantine, and the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. He has been a DeMolay Advisor and recipient of the DeMolay Legion of Honor. Sir Knight Trent is also active in the York Rite College and has received the Order of the Purple Cross. He holds national-level offices in the Royal Order of Scotland and the Supreme Council MOVPER (Grotto) and served as the Most Excellent Great Chief of Knight Masons of the USA for 2021-2022.
S.K. Martin was appointed & installed as the Department Commander for the East Central Department at the 68th Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America on August 18, 2021.