Albert Pike Pike Selph Jr. (1909 - 2000)

Born 28 Mar 1909 in Jefferson, Parish, Louisiana

Ancestors

Husband of Edith Marie (Breaux) Selph — married 23 Dec 1934 in Concordia Parish, Louisiana

Descendants

Died Mar 2000 at about age 90 in Florida

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Al Selph [send private message] and Steve Lemoine [send private message]

Biography

Born 28 MAR 1909. Jefferson, Parish, Louisiana. ^[1]

Buried MAR 2000. Metairie Cemetary. ^[2]

File Format: jpg. UncAlbert.jpg PHOTO SIZE 441.000000 574.000000.

Albert Pike Selph Jr. was named after his father Albert Pike Selph Sr. who in turn was named after Albert Pike. Albert Pike was a good friend of my great-grandfather Colin McRea Selph and his wife Elizabeth Dimitry Selph.

Al was born at home at 315 Copernicus Ave in Gretna, Louisiana (now Huey P. Long Ave.) on Sunday, March 28, 1909. Apparently the house was across the street from a bar and there was a violin player playing a song, the name of which has now been lost to history. The family moved to St. Andrews in New Orleans before March of 1911 and then to 419 Calhoun St. in New Orleans about 1914. He was christened at Trinity Episcopal Church on May 11, 1909.

Al entered R. T. Dannell elementary school on Nashville Ave. in 1915 and graduated from the 8th grade on Thursday, January 31, 1924. In the fall of 1924 and spring of 1925 he attended Warren Easton High School.

He dropped out of high School and went to work, partly to help support the family. He worked as an usher at the Strand Theater between 1925 and 1926. He advanced to assistant head usher but was laid off when the theater closed down. Between 1926 and 1928 he worked at Eugene Dietzen, a blue print and engineering supply company in New Orleans, Louisiana. He left Eugene Dietzen and worked briefly for Jankee Service Company.

In 1928, partly because of his experience at Dietzen and his familiarity with survey instruments, he managed to get a job working on a U.S. Corp of Engineers survey crew. Al went to work for the Corps on October 1, 1928 as a "Survey man" according to an employment record in my possession. Also, he is listed as a temporary employee until April 23, 1929. On July 24, 1936 he was promoted to SP-5 and became a Dredging Inspector. On April 16, 1942 he was promoted to Senior Engineering Aide (SP-6). On March 1, 1943 He was promoted to Chief Engineering Aide (SP-8).

Most of the work in those early years was as a surveyor on the Intracoastal Canal right of way. He walked at one time or other the entire length of the canal in Louisiana from the Mississippi River to the Texas border. He also witnessed the dredging of part or all of the canal at one time or other in his early career. By his own account, he walked through so much swamp water in those days that his lower legs and feet became permanently stained and discolored.

Al left the Corp of Engineers and enlisted in the CB's (U.S. Navy) on October 10, 1943. He went in as a Seaman Apprentice but was promptly promoted to Chief Petty Officer because of his experience with the Corp of Engineers. He took basic training at Camp Perry in Williamsburg, Virginia and then transferred to Bainbridge Maryland in "charge of all CB's "(?). From there he went to Hawaii and then to a MCB unit in Guam. He left the service on January 28, 1946, returned to the Corp of Engineers and was reinstated at the SP-8 grade. On November 14, 1948 he was promoted to Safety Engineer (P-2). Eventually he became Chief of Contract Administration in New Orleans with over 100 people reporting to him.

He joined the naval reserves after he left active duty and his unit was activated in 1968 when he was 59 years old. He went to training in Mississippi and Oxnard, California and then spent an 8 month tour of duty in Quang Tri, Province, Vietnam. He was possibly the oldest enlisted man that served in Vietnam.

He retired from both the Navy and the U.S. Corp of Engineers on his return from Vietnam in about 1970. After his retirement from the Corp and the Navy, Al worked for a casket company.

He and Edith sold their house on Camp Street and moved into a brand new house on Caminada Drive in Marrero right off Barataria Boulevard.

After Al returned from the service he became very active in the Episcopal Church. The following is an excerpt from a biography by his grandson, Alvin John Bedgood. Much of this information I believe Al got from Father Richardson, a long time friend and the Pastor of St George's for many years.

"He was a devoted Christian and a member of Grace Episcopal Church for many years before transferring to Saint George's Episcopal Church in 1955. He was a very active member of Saint George's serving for many years on the Vestry, as a Sunday School Teacher, and as a Lay Leader within Saint George's and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He rose to the highest lay position within the church, that of Senior Warden, where his keen insight, forbearance, and sound judgment helped the church to grow and prosper. He worked to preserve the church buildings, while improving the quality of the church. He also served as a Lay Reader, and actively assisted with the conduct of the worship services throughout the week. In addition, he was one of the leading lights in the formation of the Saint George's Episcopal School which was established just across the street from his home for many years on Camp Street. In 1985 when his health finally forced him to leave Saint George's he was named Senior Warden Emeritus in recognition of his many years of faithful dedication and selfless service. After he left Saint George's he attended Mount Olivett Church in Old Algiers until he moved to Florida in 1999."

Among all his deeds and activities, perhaps his greatest, and his humblest, contributions to his community come from his service as an active Mason for over 50 years. He joined Osiris Lodge #300 on August 22, 1947 and was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on November 10, 1947. He was very active in his Lodge working his way through all of the stations and serving as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1952. He served Osiris Lodge as Treasurer from 1966 to 1983 and also edited the newsletter for many years. He became a perpetual member in 1993. Additionally he served as member, president, and past president of the Osiris Past Master Club, where his was a very vocal, yet wise and reasoned voice.

He remained active in his local lodge, attending meetings, and supporting various lodge activities until his health began to fail and he could no longer drive at night. He is especially noted for the several Masonic Plays he wrote for the lodge over the years. He was also active in helping Osiris Lodge build its own building, serving as secretary of the building committee, and as secretary of the board of directors until the temple was completed and in good financial condition.

He was also a member of the Albert Pike Lodge #376, a Scottish Rite Ritual Lodge, and one of the very few Master Masons who have been both a Master of a York Rite and a Scottish Rite Ritual Lodge. A 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, he was also active in the New Orleans Scottish Rite Bodies serving as Master of the 14th Degree for many years. As the Venerable Master of Albert Pike Lodge of Perfection he did what ever was asked of him and more.

Al Selph was also an active member of the York Rite Bodies serving as High Priest of Babylon Chapter of Royal Arch Masons #66, Illustrious Master of New Orleans Council #35 Cryptic Masons, and Commander of Ivanhoe Commandery #19. He was a Member Knight of the York Cross of Honor, and a Member of the Red Cross of Constantine St. Paul's Conclave, which is the highest honor the York Rite bestows upon its members.

From 1955 to 1968 he served as Secretary of Louisiana Relief Lodge #1, stepping down when he was ordered to Viet Nam. When he returned from Viet Nam he served as Master of Louisiana Relief Lodge #1, and again as Secretary of the Lodge. This led to his election to a national position as an Executive member of the Masonic Boards of Relief of the US and Canada, where he served as Treasurer for over 10 years before retiring due to his declining health. Yet even this did not keep him from serving the Masons. For even when he could no longer travel, he stayed in touch via the telephone serving the lodge and his brothers until almost the very end.

Al had a heart attack and subsequent quadruple bi-pass at the age of 78, probably in 1987.

Al died just short of his 91st birthday on March 25, 2000 in Royal Palm Beach, Florida from post surgical complications for a diseased gall bladder. His cremated remains were interred at Metairie Cemetery on April 13, 2000. A memorial Service was conducted for the repose of his Soul at Saint George's Episcopal Church on Saint Charles Avenue in New Orleans, on Saturday, April 29, 2000.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S59
2. ↑ Source: #S60

• Source: S59 copy of birth record in selph file
• Source: S60 Buried in the Selph plot, center at the headstone in a brass cremation container.
• Year: 1910; Census Place: Mechanicham, Jefferson, Louisiana; Roll: T624_516; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0027; FHL microfilm: 1374529
• Year: 1920; Census Place: New Orleans Ward 14, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: T625_624; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 238; Image: 578
• Year: 1930; Census Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: 801; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 24; Image: 508.0; FHL microfilm: 2340536
• Year: 1940; Census Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: T627_1431; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 36-321
• City: Marrero; State: Louisiana; Year(s): 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
• National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, United States; Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 01/01/1939 - 01/01/1949; Record Group: 24, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798 - 2007; Series ARC ID
• Number: 439-30-5881; Issue State: Louisiana; Issue Date: Before 1951
• Birth Certificate; Page 93 and 93 of the Parish Register of Trinity Chapel
• Marriage Certificate: Concordia Parish, Louisiana