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Wlaf1450The dean of Campbell County law enforcement officers, Darryl Chapman, receives Pythian of the Year award
By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Campbell Countian and long-time law enforcement officer Darryl Chapman was honored with two prestigious awards this year. Chapman is currently an SRO Office with Anderson County.
As part of the Grand Lodge of Pythia, Chapman attended the grand session in Pigeon Forge May 30th through June 1st. At that event, he was honored with the Pythian of the Year Award.
The Pythian of the Year is issued to one member across the whole state of Tennessee.
This award is given to a Pythian who works tirelessly in his community, gives through a variety of charitable contributions and works within the lodge itself.
Chapman has been a member of the Pythian for four years, after a friend asked him to join.
“It is such a charitable group, and I enjoy helping people,” Chapman said. He originally joined in Sparta, Tennessee. He then started his own lodge, which meets in Rocky Top the fourth Thursday of every month.
According to the Grand Lodge of TN Website, the members of the Fraternal Order of Knight of Pythias are “deeply involved in their communities” throughout the United States and Canada. The Knights of Pythias hold social and charitable activities that are “directed towards enhancing the great principles of the Order, which are friendship, charity and benevolence. “These principles are adhered to very strongly through contributions of money, time, efforts, and supplies to Pythians and non-Pythians alike.”
“We have helped with quite a few charities over the past four years. We help local elementary schools, Shop with the Sheriff in Anderson County, donations to Campbell County’s Shop with a Cop, stuff like that,” Chapman said.
Receiving an award like Pythian of the Year is a humbling experience for me; It was unexpected, I never thought anything about getting the award. You don’t do charity work for recognition, you do it for your community, but receiving this award certainly makes you feel like your efforts are appreciated. I just want to help my community,” Chapman said.
The Knight of Pythias is not a masonic organization nor has any fraternal ties to Freemasonry. There are currently nine lodges in Tennessee.
THE PYTHIAN STORY
The Order of Knights of Pithias is an international fraternity which was founded in Washington, DC, February 19, 1864, by Justus H. Rathbone, and has more than two thousand subordinate lodges in the United States and Canada, with occasional lodges having been formed elsewhere. The “primary object of fraternal organizations is to promote friendship among men and to relieve suffering. Each organization adopts some outstanding principle as its objective. The individuality of an order is determined by its ideal sentiment. The distinguishing principles of the Order of Knights of Pythias are “FRIENDSHIP, CHARITY and BENEVOLENCE”.
Chapman recognized by Knight Masons
In February of this year, Chapman received recognition in Washington, D.C. at a Freemason event for the Invitational Masonic order of Knight Masons. Tennessee only has about 10 orders of Knight Masons in the state, according to Chapman.
The Order of Knight Masons is a “chivalric Masonic order, open to Master Masons who are also members of a Royal Arch Chapter, though membership is strictly by invitation. Members, known as Knight Masons, meet in Councils that are governed by the Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA. This prestigious order not only honors a Mason’s achievements but also provides a platform for continued exploration of Masonic teachings and fellowship.
Chapman was the first Tennessean to ever receive this rare recognition.
“In the history of Knight Masons, only 32 have ever been awarded this recognition in North America. When I got that award, I was blown away and not expecting it at all. Another good friend of mine was recognized that night and we were the first from Tennessee to get that award,” Chapman said.
He received that award at a week-long Mason event in Washington D.C., which hosted Knight Masons from around the globe. Chapman said he met other Masons from England, Scotland, Ireland, and all over at the event. Chapman has been a Free Mason since 1991 and part of the Knight Masons since 2019.
“That marked a milestone event for me in my life; I have dedicated a lot of my life to Masonry over the last 20 years and to get that award in D.C., in front of some of the most influential Masons in the world, that was a milestone. I just love helping my communities, I like helping people period, it’s just who I am,” Chapman said.
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.
For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE.
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/16/2025-6AM-PHOTOS PHOTOS SUBMITTED)