Roger Scott VanGorden was born on September 6, 1959, in Shelbyville, Indiana. He is the son of the late Brother Walter Scott and the late Avonda “Bonnie” VanGorden.
He grew up in the southern Shelby County area and was educated at Southwestern High School of Shelby County and Indiana University at Bloomington, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He is employed as the Production Planning and Control Manager in the XPI Fuel Systems Business Unit of Cummins, Inc. in Columbus, Indiana.
On October 1, 2011, he married the former Patricia Ann Lobdell of Hope, Indiana. They are the proud parents of Gracelinn Mary Katherine VanGorden. From a previous marriage, they have four daughters: Brittany Marie Schoen, Alexandra Lynn Rooks, Danielle Elizabeth Fisher, and Kathleen McMinds VanGorden. The VanGordens reside in the village of St. Louis Crossing, which is near Columbus.
He is a member of Edinburgh United Methodist Church. He served on the Administrative Council of the Church for several years.
He was initiated, passed, and raised a Master Mason in Farmers Lodge No. 147, F. & A.M., at Norristown, Indiana, in 1981. While a plural member of Broad Ripple Lodge No. 643, F. & A.M., at Indianapolis Roger served as Master in 1992 and 2000. He served his home Lodge as Master in 2012 and 2013.
Roger is active in the work of the Scottish Rite. He a life member of the Indianapolis Valley, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite receiving the 32° in 1994. Roger served as Thrice Potent Master of Adoniram Lodge of Perfection 2006-2007. Roger served several years as the Membership Development Chairman for the Valley. Roger is a dual member of the George Rogers Clark Valley in New Albany, Indiana. The Supreme Council, A.A.S.R., Northern Masonic Jurisdiction crowned him with the 33° on September 25, 2000, in ceremonies at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On August 29, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky Roger was installed an Active Member of the Supreme Council, A.A.S.R., N.M.J.
Roger also served the York Rite of Freemasonry. He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Indianapolis Chapter No. 5, Royal Arch Masons in 1982 and served as High Priest in 1989. He was greeted a Select Master in Indianapolis Council No. 2, Cryptic Masons in 1982 and served as Illustrious Master in 1992. He was created a Knight Templar in Raper Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar in 1982 and served as Eminent Commander in 1993. He is currently a member of Columbus Chapter No. 10, R.A.M.; Columbus Council No. 54, C.M.; and Columbus Commandery No. 14, K.T.
He is a charter member of Marvin L. Isley York Rite College No. 129 in Shelbyville. He served as Governor of the College in 1997-1998. In August 1999, the York Rite Sovereign College of North America in ceremonies at Houston, Texas, created him a Knight of the Order of the Purple Cross of York.
He is also active in the Allied Masonic Degrees (A.M.D.). He was the charter Sovereign Master of St. Bernard de Clairvaux Council No. 256, A.M.D. in 1990 and served as its Secretary from 1991 to 1999. He is a member of the Order of the Secret Monitor with the title of Past Supreme Ruler. He is a member of the Royal Ark Mariners with the title Past Commander Noah. The Grand Council A.M.D. of the United States of America honored him in 1991 by being created a Knight of the Red Branch of Eri and Appendant Orders. Roger is currently a member of St. Bartholomew Council No. 295 in Columbus. He is a 4th Grade member of the Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord. Roger is a Fellow of the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America and is currently serving as its Junior Vice Chancellor.
He has served several appendant bodies such as: Indiana Council No. 15, Knight Masons, Excellent Chief, 1999; Masonic Home High Twelve Club No. 545, President, 2000; St. Andrew Tabernacle No. XXXV, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, Eminent Preceptor 2005; and St. James Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, Puissant Sovereign, 2007. Since 2016, he has served as Chief Adept of Indiana College, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis and holds the IX°.
Additional Masonic memberships include: Royal Order of Scotland, Robert A. Woods Priory, Knights of the York Cross of Honour, Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptors, Indiana Council of Anointed High Priests, Indiana Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters, Indiana Past Commanders Association, Ft. Harrison Chapter No. 66, National Sojourners, and the Lew Wallace Tippecanoe Camp, Heroes of ’76.
He also enjoys membership in a few of the not-so-serious Masonic-related bodies such as: Ye Ancient Order of Corks, Masonic Order of the Bath, Masonic Order of the Garter, Goose n Tater 101, and the Royal Order of Zanzibar.
He is a member of Sahara Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R. in Indianapolis, and Alice Court No. 30, Order of Amaranth, located at Columbus.
Since 2014, Roger has served on the Masonic Renewal Committee (MRC) of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America. On January 21, 202,3 Roger was elected President of which he currently continues to serve.
His other Masonic hobbies are research and study. He has served the Grand Lodge on the Board of Directors of the Masonic Library and Museum of Indiana, Inc., since 1994. Roger is one of 40 Fellows of the Philalethes Society and was presented the Award of Merit from the Philalethes Society in 1990 and 2022. He is a member of the Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research U.D. Roger is also a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society.
He is a Senior DeMolay of the David Conger Chapter at Norristown, where he served as Master Councilor in 1977. He is also a Past Illustrious Knight Commander of the Sahara Priory, Order of Knighthood of DeMolay. He is a Chevalier of the Order of DeMolay and a recipient of the DeMolay Active Legion of Honor. He is the fourteenth Senior DeMolay to serve as Grand Master of Masons in Indiana.
In April 2000, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky commissioned him a Kentucky Colonel.
Being an ardent fraternalist, Roger is a proud life member of Brotherhood Lodge No. 3-5-7, Knights of Pythias, located at Carmel, Indiana.
He served the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Indiana as a Royal Arch Deputy from 1993 to 1996 and served as Grand Master of the Third Veil in 1996-97.
In the Grand Council, Cryptic Masons of Indiana Roger was selected an Honorary Past Most Illustrious Grand Master in 2005. In 2023, the General Grand Council, Cryptic Masons International invested him a Companion of the Secret Vault.
In the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Indiana, he served as a Deputy Battalion Commander in 1994-95 and was presented the Distinguished Service Award of the Grand Commandery in 1997. In 2002, the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the United States of America created him a Knight Commander of the Temple.
In Grand Lodge, he served on several committees, including more than twenty years on the Jurisprudence and the Foreign Fraternal Relations Committees. He has served as Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee since 2019. Roger served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Masonic Home from 2001 to 2006. He served as Editor of The Indiana Freemason magazine from 1996 to 2000.
He was appointed Grand Marshal in 1994 by Grand Master Michael D. Brumback. Grand Master William D. Blasingame appointed him as Assistant Grand Marshal in 1996. Grand Master Douglas O. Fegenbush appointed him Junior Grand Deacon in 1997. He regularly advanced the progressive line of officers, whereupon May 22, 2002, he was invested with the purple of the Fraternity as the 152nd Grand Master of Masons in Indiana.