A Rewarding Experience

“Nothing is more rewarding than to have someone stop you in the street and say that they or their child would not be able to walk now, if it weren’t for their care that they received at a Shrine hospital.”

A Mason or Shriner is dedicated to the tradition of brother helping brother. Learn more about how you can join and help others. 

Stan Harris 

Ansar Shrine’s 108th Potentate 

Stan was born May 11, 1963 in Atwood, Illinois, the middle child of Roger and Glenna Harris.  Roger is a 50 year member of Atwood Lodge #651 which merged into Arthur Lodge #825 and a 50 + year member of Ansar Shriners.  Glenna is a 50 + year member of The Order Of Eastern Star. 

Stan grew up in Atwood, Illinois and graduated from Atwood-Hammond High School in 1981.  Upon graduation Stan was selected by the National FFA Association to be an exchange student in The Netherlands through the Work Experience Abroad program (WEA) where he worked on a family farm for five months.  After his return, he attended the University of Illinois, where he studied in the College of Agriculture and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1985.   After graduation from the U of I, Stan came back to Atwood and started full time in the family business, Harris Companies, Inc.  where he still works today.  Stan is fortunate to be able to work side by side with his father, who retired in 2012 and still drinks coffee with them every morning; his mother, who is in the nursing home; his older brother Scott and his younger sister Sandy. 

Stan’s civic and community involvement includes: member of the United Church of Atwood, having served on all committees and past moderator of the church, past trustee for the Village of Atwood, member of the Atwood/Arthur Lions Club, serving as past president and secretary, member of the Arthur Rotary Club, member of District #305 Education Foundation, vice president FFA Alumni Association and board member for the Illini Prairie CEO program. 

Stan’s masonic journey began in 1985 in Atwood Lodge #825.  He joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Springfield in 1986 and became of a member of Ansar Shriners in December 1989.  Stan is a Past Master and a Life Member of Atwood Lodge #651. He was previously secretary of Atwood Lodge starting in 1996 until the Atwood Lodge merged into Arthur Lodge #825. He is now secretary of Arthur Lodge #825. Stan was a charter member of Tri County Shrine Club in 2003 and has held positions of secretary and president of the club, Stan is also a member of the Past Masters Unit.  He was first appointed to the Outer Guard in 2013 by Illustrious Sir Wally Stutz and appointed to the advancing line in 2016 by Illustrious Sir Ed Camacho. 

Stan and his Lady Jann have been married for 31 years and have two daughters. Jann is the Title One Coordinator for the Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond CUSD #305. Jann has been teaching for 30+ years. Jann graduated from the University of Illinois, where she and Stan met. Jann is active in Lion’s Club, the Champaign Urbana Zeta Tau Alpha Alumni Chapter and works for The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL during the fall.  Elyse lives in Des Moines, IA working for ADM and Emma is a junior at the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL studying special education in the College of Education.