Most Worshipful Vernon Stuart Cook

Vernon Stuart Cook was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 9, 1943, and has been a life-long resident of the Richmond area having spent the last fifty years in Hanover County. He was educated in the public schools in the City of Richmond and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Administration of Justice and Public Safety. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy. Colonel Cook joined the Richmond Bureau of Police in June 1965, and worked his way through the promotional system to the rank of Major. During his twenty-five years with the Richmond Bureau of Police, he worked in every Division and served as Deputy Chief of Investigative Operations for twelve years. In 1970, he assisted in the formation of the Bureau's Task Force; in 1972, he established the Internal Affairs Division and, in 1973, he was instrumental in establishing the Bureau's SWAT Team. On August 1990, Colonel Cook was appointed Sheriff of Hanover County by Judge Richard H. C. Taylor and throughout his career, unanimously won re-election five times. Under his watch, this agency achieved its first international and state accreditation, started its first High Risk Entry Team, along with many other special teams. He enhanced the Crime Prevention Program and began the Adopt-a-Senior Program, which won the prestigious Webber-Seavey Award in 1996. Additionally, he reached out to all ages of the community, where he started the Citizen's Police Academy, followed by the Youth and Senior Academies. He retired on September 16, 2010. In addition to his law enforcement career, he served as an adjunct faculty member at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Brother Cook was made a Master Mason in Metropolitan Lodge No. 11 on March 17, 1966, where he is a 50-Year Masonic Veteran and Life Member in Perpetuity and served as its Worshipful Master in 2009. He affiliated with Washington and Henry Lodge No. 344 on December 13, 2004, where he is also a Life Member in Perpetuity and served as its Worshipful Master in 2008. He was District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 15C in 2010. He holds honorary mesabership in Pound Lodge No. 59, Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120, Westhampton Lodge No. 302, Hay Market Lodge No. 313, and Civil War Research Lodge No. 1865. He has served on the Grand Lodge Committee on Finance and the Grand Lodge Committee on Security. Also, he was a member of the Commission on Background Investigation of Candidates. He was elected Grand Junior Deacon in November 2011 and was elected to the Office of Grand Master on November 12, 2016.

He is a member of the Valley of Richmond, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and was invested Knight Commander Court of Honour in 2011 and coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 2015. He served as Venerable Master in 2013 and was appointed Personal Representative to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in 2014. He is a Past President of the Richmond Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center. He holds membership in Washington Royal Arch Chapter No. 9, St. Polycarp Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, Acca Shrine Center, Richmond Court No. 16, Royal Order of Jesters and Life Membership in Fort Lee-Richmond Chapter No. 72, National Sojourners. He is an Honorary DeMolay and a recipient of the Legion of Honor from the International Order of DeMolay.

His professional and community involvement includes service on the Advisory Board for Curriculum Development at the Community College for the Criminal Justice Program, the Board of Directors at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, and the Board of Directors for the Hanover Adult Care Center, where he currently is a member on the Honorary Board. He is a member of the Mechanicsville Businessmen's Association. He is also an active member of Enon United Methodist Church.

He is married to the former Barbara Tyler, and they have three grown children, who were raised and educated in Hanover County, and they keep active with their six grandsons.