Alan Wayne Adkins was born in Stuart, Virginia, on January 30, 1948. He graduated from Stuart High School, received an AA Degree in Business Administration from Ferrum College and a BS Degree in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. Until elected Grand Secretary on November 11, 1997, he had been employed continuously by the R. J. Reynolds-Patrick County Memorial Hospital since January 1973. He served as its Assistant Administrator-Chief Financial Officer until 1991, at which time he was named Administrator. He is a veteran of the United States Army.

            Brother Adkins was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Mountain Home Lodge No. 263 on June 28, 1971; passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on August 6, 1971; and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on September 11, 1971. He served as its Worshipful Master in 1977 and as Secretary from 1978 to 1991, and is also a 50-Year Masonic Veteran, Life Member in Perpetuity, and Honorary member. He was District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. 39 in 1982. He was Grand Purveyor in 1987 and is currently the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of California, near Virginia. He served as Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1997 and has served as Grand Secretary from November 1997 to November 2021. He has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Masonic Home of Virginia for twenty-seven years and was its President for twelve years. He served as the President of the Conference of Grand Secretaries in 2013-2014.

               Brother Adkins is a Life Member in Perpetuity and holds honorary membership in Westhampton Lodge No. 302, where he is currently serving as Secretary since 1999, and is a Life Member in Perpetuity in Pound Lodge No. 59, George Washington Research Lodge No. 1732, and Virginia Research Lodge No. 1777. In addition, he holds honorary membership in Pound Lodge No. 59, Kemper-Macon Ware Lodge No. 64, Clinton Lodge No. 73, Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120, Piedmont Lodge No. 152, Ashland Lodge No. 168, Rocky Mount Lodge No. 201, Ivanhoe Lodge No. 235, Bremond Lodge No. 241, Campbell Lodge No. 316, Warwick Lodge No. 336, and Civil War Research Lodge No. 1865.  He is a member of the Valleys of Danville, Richmond, and Portsmouth Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and was invested Knight Commander Court of Honour in 1995, coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1999, and awarded the Grand Cross in 2011. In 2019, he was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council in Virginia and in 2021 was crowned an active member of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A.  He is a member of Lynchburg Royal Arch Chapter No. 10, Bayard Commandery No. 15, and Past Governor, Commonwealth York Rite College No. 50. He is a Past Sovereign Master of William T. Buckner Council No. 130, Allied Masonic Degrees; Past Chief and Scribe of King Darius Council No. 17, Knight Masons; and Past Puissant Sovereign of Saint Polycarp Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine and Past Intendant General, Division of Virginia, Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine. He is the Chief Adept and a Past Celebrant of Virginia College Societas Rosicrucian and holds membership in Kazim Shrine Center; Roanoke Court No. 59, Royal Order of Jesters; Royal Order of Scotland, Fort Lee-Richmond Chapter No. 72, National Sojourners, and James Monroe Camp, Heroes of ‘76. He is also a Past Patron of Stuart Chapter No. 25, Order of Eastern Star and has served on various committees for the Grand Chapter of Virginia, Order of Eastern Star. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the George Washington Masonic Memorial Association. Brother Adkins received the Legion of Honor from the International Order of DeMolay, the Odie R. Howell Leadership Award from the Virginia DeMolay Foundation, the Order of the Purple Cross from the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, the Christopher Champlin Medal from the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations for outstanding Masonic achievement, the Phillip C. Tucker Medal from the Grand Lodge of Vermont, the George Washington Distinguished Service Medal and the John Blair, Jr. Award from the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

           Prior to relocating to the Richmond area, Brother Adkins was active in his community where he served on the local Advisory Board of SunTrust Bank. He is a Past President of the Stuart Rotary Club, and within Patrick County, he is a Past President of the Unit of the American Heart Association, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way. He was recognized by Ferrum College as a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community and by the Patrick County Jaycees with a life membership in the Virginia Jaycees. He is an active member, Deacon, and Moderator of Mechanicsville Baptist Church.

            Brother Adkins was married to the former Gerri Stone (now deceased) for almost thirty-nine years. They have a daughter, Amanda, who lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with her husband, Ryan, and daughter, Lacey; and a son, Robert, who lives in Henrico, Virginia, with his wife, Linsey, and daughters, Brooklyn and Camille.

Photography by Dupont Photographers, Inc., Washington, D.C.