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Robert J. Hathaway
Leroy A. Foot Grand Master of Montana
Grand Master of Montana 1920-1921
1931-1932 Dr. Hathaway was born at Ovid,
Michigan, on January 24, 1874. He
Leroy Albert Foot was born attended public schools in Ovid
at Melrose, Minnesota, on and the University of Michigan
September 9th, 1882. He was and the University of Illinois from
raised on a ranch near Minot, which he received his Doctor of
North Dakota, where he attended Medicine. Later he took advance
school and the University of work at the Universities of Paris
North Dakota, receiving his Law and Vienna.
Degree in 1906. He moved to Dr. Hathaway moved to
Kalispell, Montana, to practice Law with C. H. Foot. In Glendive, Montana, in 1902. He served as the County Health
1923 he moved to Choteau, Montana, and engaged in a Officer and was in private practice. He was Chief Surgeon of
Law practice with his brother Stanley R. Foot. Grace Hospital from 1902 to 1917.
While in Kalispell, he joined the National Guard in He entered the U. S. Army in 1917 and served as an
August, 1906 as a member of Company “F”, and served instructor of medical officers at Ft. Riley, Kansas, and
with that company until February 7, 1910, during that later was in charge of a hospital train in France. He was
time he was promoted from private to First Sergeant. discharged as a Lt. Colonel in the reserve and returned to
He le to help organize Company “H”, and was elected Glendive.
as Captain commanding the new company, until May
23, 1913, when he moved from Kalispell to Choteau. He
was appointed Inspector of Small Arms Practice, and
held that o ce until, June 1916. As soon as the United
States entered the war, he went with his company to
France with the 163rd Infantry Regiment. He served
as a division machine gun officer and Assistant Chief
of Staff of the 41st Division, with the rank of Major. At
the close of the war, he returned to Montana, serving as Army Hospital Train No. 61, France 1918
a Lieutenant Colonel of the 163rd Infantry.
He served as Superintendent of the State Hospital in Warm
In 1921, he moved to Helena, where he was Deputy Springs from 1921 to 1925. He moved to Evanston, Illinois,
Attorney General. In 1924 he became Attorney General and practiced medicine for sixteen years before returning
of Montana holding that office until 1933. He moved to Glendive. He was a Fellow of the American College of
to Fort Peck, where he was with the legal department Surgeons and a member of various medical associations and
a delegate to the London Masonic Peace Celebration.
during the construction of Fort Peck Dam. In 1936 he
went to Sacramento, California, and served with the Brother Hathaway received his degrees in Glendive Lodge
Army Corps of Engineers with the rank of Brigadier No. 31. He was Initiated on January 23, 1904. Passed on
General, during the construction of Shasta Dam. February 19, 1904, and Raised to the sublime degree of a
Master Mason on March 19, 1904. He served as Worshipful
Brother Foot received his degrees in Kalispell Lodge Master in 1908. R. W. Brother Hathaway was elected as
No. 42. Initiated on January 6, 1910; Passed on January Senior Grand Warden in 1919. However, he was serving
20, 1910, and Raised to the sublime degree of a Master as a medical officer in the Army located in France and
Mason on February 14, 1910. Upon moving to Choteau, could not be installed at the time of election. A Special
he dimitted from Kalispell No. 42 and affiliated with Communication of the Grand Lodge of Montana was held
Choteau No. 44, serving as Worshipful Master in 1920. at St. Aignan, France, on March 29th, 1919, under Proxy
He also served as Worshipful Master of Montana Army from Most Worshipful Grand Master E. M. Hutchinson for
the purpose of installing Brother Hathaway as Senior Grand
Lodge No. 1., U. D. Brother Foot was appointed Senior Warden. Lt. Col. LeRoy Foot, Worshipful Master of Montana
Grand Steward in 1922 and was elected as Grand Army Lodge No. 1, U. D., installed R. W. Brother Hathaway
Master of Masons in Montana in 1931. M. W. Brother as Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden. (Note: Brother
Foot was also a member of the York Rite, Order of the Foot became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Montana
Eastern Star, and Shrine. in 1931.)
He died on August 22, 1955 in Sacramento, California M. W. Brother Hathaway was also a member of the York
where was buried at East Lawn Memorial Park with Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine, and the Order of the Eastern Star
Masonic Funeral Honors. serving as Worthy Grand Patrion in 1913, He died on July
15th, 1955, and was buried in Middlebury, Michigan.
Montana Freemason Page 36 April/May 2020 Volume 96 No.3
