‘My Mother Was One
of the Most
Courageous People
I Ever Met... and a
Dedicated Moose’

Ron Sweetman joined the Moose in 1971, simply as a favor to his Mom! Soon enough, though, he discovered how much he enjoyed it--and how he and the fraternity could
make each other better.

By MICHAEL McCULLOH


Ronald L. Sweetman
Supreme Governor

> Ronald L. Sweetman’s nomination and election in Las Vegas as Supreme Governor of the Loyal Order of Moose was, of course, only the latest of many accolades from his fraternal colleagues for his unwavering dedication to the Moose program through the years. But if one were to ask Sweetman, 65, who has been his biggest influence in getting him involved with the Moose, he would not hesitate a bit with his answer: his mother.

Sweetman’s mother Beatrice endured a tough life. When his younger sister Barbara was born in 1941, Beatrice developed a chronic, debilitating illness which caused her much pain. But she never complained, and did everything to ensure that Ron and Barbara enjoyed a happy childhood in Bear, a southern suburb of Wilmington, DE.

Beatrice even found time to dedicate herself to a sociable cause she believed in: the Women of the Moose--New Castle, DE Chapter 1418, to be specific. Beatrice would often attend Women of the Moose functions, and loved to attend dances every Saturday night with her sister Arlina Nichols, who is 91 and still an active member of New Castle Chapter.

“She loved the Moose through and through,” Sweetman said. “In fact, she was the primary reason I joined in the first place.”

Beatrice was persistent, but patient in getting Ron to join the Moose, because through the 1960s he was preoccupied with his new wife, starting a family and serving his country.


Sweetman talks to the boys at the Maryland-Delaware home about an upcoming trip he helped orchestrate to Ocean City, MD sponsored by the Maryland-Delaware-DC Association.

Ron was immediately smitten with his future wife Pearl when he first saw her at a corner deli in 1959. The two had attended different high schools. He garnered the courage to ask her out on a date, and the two hit it off immediately, he said. They were married Oct. 15, 1960--shortly after which Ron began a four-year commitment to the U.S. Air Force, where he received training as an electrical/mechanical technician. Upon his return home to civilian life in 1964, returning, he found similar work at Chrysler Assembly in Newark, and the Sweetmans began raising their family.

But on their 11th wedding anniversary in October 1971, Beatrice asked Ron and Pearl to come down to the Lodge to celebrate. The two joined her, and it was then that the late Jim Morris got Ron Sweetman’s signature on an application as a member.

Although he was enrolled less than a month later, on Nov. 11, 1971, Sweetman did not really become involved in the Moose right off the bat. In fact, he never even set foot in the building for fully seven months until after he joined.

However, one Thursday evening the following June, he looked at the Lodge newsletter and noticed that Thursday was meeting night. He had the evening free, and decided to go check out the Lodge. The warm, inviting atmosphere after he arrived was a pleasant surprise to Sweetman.

“While I was there that evening, I was befriended by a number of Lodge brothers, and was a stranger no longer,” he said. “That was a good feeling, and I’m just grateful for the many friendships that I have made over the years.”


Sweetman (second from left) serving on the New Castle, DE Lodge 1578 Ritual Staff in the early 1980s.

Sweetman discovered why his mother loved the Moose so much and immediately became active, in Ritual and on other committees, ultimately serving through all the chairs of his Lodge, District, Blue Hen Moose Legion and the Maryland-Delaware-DC Moose Association.

“What I discovered, is that I thoroughly enjoyed what I was doing. I found myself wanting to get more involved. I began searching for all the printed materials I could find about the Loyal Order of Moose and the Women of the Moose,” Sweetman said. “I would also join both the Lodge and Moose Legion Ritual staffs. Why? So I could become more knowledgeable about the fraternity.”

Sweetman’s first visit to Mooseheart was in 1980, and he was immediately moved by the beautiful campus and seeing where the children lived.

“It really touched my heart. I remember clearly being moved by the tour, especially seeing Baby Village the first time,” Sweetman said. He added that he loves seeing the changes made on campus every time he visits

His first visit to Moosehaven was in 1982, where he reminisced with an older couple from his Lodge who retired to Moosehaven. He now looks forward to seeing other friends he has made at Moosehaven through his visits.

Ron’s mother Beatrice was beaming as she watched her son rise in the ranks of the Moose, and one of her proudest moments arrived when Ron was named to the Supreme Council in 1994, two years before she died.

“She was proud of me, but I was proud of her too. She was the most courageous woman I ever knew... and a dedicated Moose,” he said.

Sweetman and his wife Pearl are the proud parents of four children and are grandparents to eight more. The two reside in Elkton, MD, just across the Delaware border.

As Supreme Governor, Sweetman will be tirelessly promoting the fraternity’s Community Service program, via the “Ronny Moose” coloring book promotion. The book tells the story of the Moose in a simple story format with fun pictures for kids to color. The book will be distributed at hospitals and places where children reside with life-threatening illnesses, such as Ronald McDonald houses, Sweetman said. Click here for information and order form.

Bob Manning, Administrator of Aberdeen, MD Lodge 1450, speaks in glowing terms of Sweetman.

“He is one of the best Moose members I have ever seen and will make a fabulous Supreme Governor,” Manning said.