WRMS student named DeMolay Rookie of Year

WARNER ROBINS — When the state Order of DeMolay held its annual Tournament of Champions competition in February, it was a young man from Warner Robins who earned the Rookie of the Year award.

Hiroki Harris, the son of Walt and Tamako Harris and a member of the Middle Georgia chapter of DeMolay, earned the award with a score of 396 out of a possible 400.

DeMolay is a Masonic-sponsored youth organization for boys ages 12-21. Started more than 80 years ago, it says it is the largest youth fraternity in the world.

Only young men in their first year of membership are eligible for the Rookie of the Year competition, according to Marc Bohn, executive officer of the state DeMolay group.

The competition involves repeating from memory the detailed promises — called queries — made during initiation. They involve devotion to God, country and family.

“We want to recognize a first year DeMolay that learned their queries with excellence,” Bohn said. “It is just a way to impress on new members not only the ritual but the lessons of the ritual that they took to heart when they joined.”

Bohn said because of the priority DeMolay places on learning the queries, the organization decided this year to present a larger trophy to the Rookie of the Year. In the past, the winner would receive a small personal trophy, but starting with Harris’ win, along with the smaller trophy, the Rookie of the Year is also presented with a large trophy to put on display in the chapter’s lodge.

“I never did get nervous,” Harris said about the competition. “There were three judges, and I picked a spot on the wall and looked at it. I did try to say them with emphasis as well.”

Harris, a student at Warner Robins Middle School, said he studied for the Rookie of the Year contest continuously since joining DeMolay last summer and was thrilled to hear his name called out as the winner.

“I almost jumped through the roof to outer space,” he said. “I was actually relieved when they got to that award, because then I could quit biting my lip.”

Contact Alline Kent at 396-2467 or allinekent@cox.net.