Right Worshipful Brother Richard W. Kaeser, Jr. was born on August 14, 1967 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Arnold, Missouri and later Affton, Missouri, graduating from Affton High School in 1985. He attended St. Louis Community College at Meramec and the University of Missouri at St. Louis. From UMSL, he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1994. He currently works for Webster University in Webster Groves.

Rick has been married to his wife, Carolyn (nee Nebel) for 18 years. Carolyn comes from a very Masonic family and is herself a Past Honored Queen and Past Bethel Guardian for Job’s Daughters, as well as a Past Matron for Eastern Star. Carolyn and Rick reside in De Soto, Missouri with their 14-year-old son, Billy, who is a member of Crestwood DeMolay.
As a young man, Rick was very active in the Order of DeMolay, joining Crestwood Chapter at the age of 13. He served as Master Councilor in 1984, and later served as a Regional Master Councilor for the St. Louis Region. As a DeMolay, he earned the Representative DeMolay award, as well as the Past Master Councilor Meritorious Service Award and the Degree of Chevalier. As an adult, he is an Advisor for two DeMolay chapters, Mineral Area and Crestwood, and served for 3 years as the Chapter Dad of Mineral Area Chapter. He has been awarded the Legion of Honor for his service to DeMolay, and is an Acitve Member of the International Supreme Council.

RWB Kaeser’s Masonic career began when he was initiated into Fenton Lodge No. 281 on December 27, 1985 at the age of 18. He was passed on February 14, 1986, and raised on March 28, 1986, representing the fourth generation in his family to become a Master Mason. He became a multiple member of Leadwood Lodge No. 598 in 2005 and served as Worshipful Master of Fenton in 2010 and Leadwood in 2011, earning the Truman Honor Lodge Achievement Award two years in a row for two different lodges.

RWB Kaeser served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy Grand Lecturer for 5 years. He was a member of the Grand Lodge Youth Committee for 7 years, the last 4 years as Chairman.
He is a member of the Valley of St. Louis, Orient of Missouri of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, where he served as Wise Master of Rose Croix in 2017. He also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star, Moolah Shrine, National Sojourners and the Sword of Bunker Hill.

An avid ritualist, RWB Kaeser holds all ten Ritual Subdivision cards, is a member of the Charlie’s Angels degree team, and is on the Rose Croix ritual team and the Rose Croix funeral team.