Mike and his wife Becky were married on May 20th, 1989 in Lancaster, Ohio and have two children. Daughter Valerie and her husband Will Evans have one daughter, Penelope, and live in Merion Village (Columbus). A son, Connor and his girlfriend Jordan Householder who reside in Lancaster, Ohio. Mike & Becky have lived their entire lives in Lancaster, Ohio and spend as much time as possible with community events, their friends and with family as these come first for them. Mike began his Masonic life in DeMolay in Fairfield Chapter in Lancaster in 1976, served as Master Councilor in 1980, Representative DeMolay in 1981 and in 2019 was honored to be presented with the DeMolay International Legion of Honor Award for active DeMolays.

He is a Past Master and endowed member of Lancaster Lodge #57 and a plural member of Rushville Lodge #211. Holding Honorary memberships with Somerset Lodge #76, Delta Lodge #207, East Palestine Lodge #417, Pleasant Valley Lodge #537 and Peerless Lodge #591.

MWB McCandlish is a member the Valley of Columbus AASR and officer in the Enoch Lodge of Perfection, and was coroneted a 33°Scottish Rite Mason in 2025. He is a member of Lancaster Chapter #11 Royal Arch Masons, Lancaster Council #3 Royal and Select Masters, and Lancaster Commandery #2 Knights Templar. He is also a member Wiliam J. Reese Allied Masonic Degrees Council #145, Aladdin Shrine, Achbar Grotto, Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter of National Sojourners and the Heroes of ’76. MWB McCandlish, served the 13th District and the Grand Lodge of Ohio as District Education Officer for three years (2014-2016) and District Deputy Grand Master, 2017-2019.

Most Worshipful Brother Michael L. McCandlish was appointed by MWB Keith W. Newton in 2020 as Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Ohio and has subsequently been appointed as Senior Grand Deacon, Grand Marshal, and Grand Orator. In 2023 he was elected junior Grand Warden, Senior Grand Warden in 2024, and Deputy Grand Master in 2025. Most Worshipful Brother McCandlish was elected and installed as Grand Master on October 16th, 2026, at the Dayton Masonic Center in Sandusky, Ohio.

M.W.B. Michael L. McCandlish

Grand Master of Masons in Ohio 2025-2026

Biography

Shawn Johnson was born in Springfield, Ohio, to Sue and Lenny Johnson. His mother, Sue, retired as a rural postal carrier. His father, Lenny, retired from International Harvester in Springfield, Ohio.

Shawn grew up in South Charleston, Ohio, attending Southeastern High School. Upon graduation, Shawn moved for a brief period to Pandora, Ohio, to be employed by Triplet Corporation before joining the United States Army in 1987. Shawn attended basic training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, then attended electronic communications school at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Upon graduation from Advanced Individual Training (AIT), Shawn was stationed in Karlsruhe, Germany, where he enjoyed the country and honed his skills setting up and operating satellite, microwave, and tropospheric scatter technology. Shawn then transferred to Ft. Campbell Ky. Joining the 101st Airborne Division, where he was then deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm. While in the Gulf War, Shawn was responsible for several soldiers and electronic communications, including front-line communications.

Grand Lodge Officers 2025-2026

  • RWB Wayne A. Fischer -

    Deputy Grand Master

  • RWB Jeffrey M. Sime -

    Senior Grand Warden

  • RWB Eric W. Muehlenbein -

    Junior Grand Warden

  • MWB Steven M. Grindle -

    Grand Treasurer

  • MWB Keith W. Newton -

    Grand Secretary

  • RWB Kory W. Weldy -

    Grand Chaplain

  • RWB Troy L. Davis -

    Grand Orator

  • RWB Daniel A. Hall -

    Grand Marshal

  • RWB Brian J. Arehart -

    Senior Grand Deacon

  • RWB Jesse B. Crawford -

    Junior Grand Deacon

  • RWB Dennis R. Kessler -

    Grand Tyler