THE DIVAN
Potentate
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Bruce Ridley was born in Dalton, GA on December 23, 1969, and lives in Chatsworth, GA with his wife, Angela. He owns a successful landscape business, and Angela enjoys being the owner of a successful floral shop.
After graduating from Middle Georgia College and Dalton State College with a degree in Mining Survey Engineering, Bruce went to work for Georgia Marble Company as their Mine Engineer. He worked there for five years. During that time, he traveled the country to different mine sites. He then saw a business opportunity that would keep him working in state and therefore, started his own business, Bent Creek Landscaping. Bruce’s landscaping business has been a successful business since he opened it. Bruce and his wife Angela are both from the small town of Chatsworth but did not meet in Chatsworth. In July 1991, Bruce and Angela were introduced by a mutual friend in Daytona Beach, Florida. Angela was only 17 and Bruce was 21, and he refused to talk to the minor at that time. Nine months later Bruce was showing a truck at a local car show and this beautiful young lady came up to him and said, “Do you remember me?” Bruce said, “I do”. Angela asked, “is that your truck?” (It was a Toyota truck that had 44inch tall tires and a blown 409 motor in it). Angela then said, “I am 18 now, what are you doing tonight?” |
That night they went on their first date. They dated for 6 years before Angela gave Bruce an ultimatum “either put a ring on my finger or bye.” Well, Bruce married her on September 12, 1998. Over the years, they both wanted a child but were told Angela most likely could not have any children. After many years they had all but given up and in 2013 decided to run for the Yaarab Shrine Divan to serve kids.
During the 71st Yaarab Shrine Circus in 2013, Noble Bruce Ridley decided it was time to start his campaign for the office of Recorder at Yaarab Shrine. He and Angela were very busy that year as Bruce was a Deputy Chief Aide and Angela was the Yaarab Shrine decorator. Bruce made it a goal to visit every club and unit that year, 58 in total. On January 4th, 2014 at the Yaarab Annual Election and Business Meeting, he was elected to the Yaarab Shrine Divan to the position of Recorder.
In 2017, as Bruce was elected to High Priest and Profit of Yaarab Shrine, Angela had been sick for 2 months and Bruce had been kidding her that she was pregnant. While Bruce was gone to work one day, Angela decided to take a pregnancy test and the test showed positive that she was pregnant. That night Angela made a nice supper and gave Bruce a gift, the pregnancy test. (Bruce did not have a clue what it was, Angela had to explain what it was to him). They decided they needed to go to the Doctor and let them do a blood test to tell for sure if she was pregnant. She was indeed pregnant. Over the next few days they decided they needed to reveal that they were pregnant to Illustrious Sir Danny Huggins, as there were many questions that had to be answered for Bruce about fulfilling his Divan duties. Danny helped them to make the decision to absolutely stay on the Divan and have the very first Divan baby. Danny proceeded to help Bruce and Angela plan the biggest and best gender reveal ever at the 75th annual Shrine Circus; a firework display that included all of Yaarab Shrine.
In order to do the gender reveal, the results from a DNA test had to be sealed at the doctor’s office and sent off to the folks that do the fireworks for Yaarab Shrine. One of the hardest decisions Bruce and Angela had to make was to send off the gender to the company that does the fireworks at our Circus without first looking at the gender results.
On a very wet day at the 75th annual Yaarab Shrine Circus, Bruce was a nervous wreck. He went to Ill. Sir Danny at one point and said, “what are we going to do with all the rain?” Danny said, “We are going to have a gender reveal no matter what because I and Yaarab Shrine want to know what this child is”! It rained most of the day and around 9:15 p.m. all the Shriners started making their way up to watch the fireworks display (Most of the areas were shut down due to all the rain.). At 9:40 p.m., the sky cleared and at 9:45 p.m., the sky turned pink. There were about 300 nobles and ladies gathered in the rain to enjoy this moment with Bruce, Angela and all of their family. Beautiful McKenzie was born on October 3rd, 2017 as the first Divan baby ever.
Bruce and Angela are members of Spring Place Baptist Church in Chatsworth, Georgia. Raised a Master Mason in August 2005, Bruce joined Yaarab Shrine in the December 2005 “HOT SANDS” Class. Shortly thereafter, he joined Dalton Shrine Club and immediately went to work. He was elected an Officer in 2006 and became president in 2009. It was then that he helped lead Dalton Shrine Club to a very successful year.
At the International White Face clown competition, held in Atlanta, Ga, in 2009, Bruce placed 3rd overall. In 2010, he won 1st place White Face clown at the South Atlantic Shrine Clown Association held in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In addition to this trophy, he also won 1st place in Parade ability and 1-man skit competition. Continuing in 2010, Bruce won 1st place White Face at the Southeastern Shrine Clown Association and 1st place clown skit. Then at the International Shrine Clown Convention, held in Indianapolis, Bruce won 1st place in White Face competition.
During the 71st Yaarab Shrine Circus in 2013, Noble Bruce Ridley decided it was time to start his campaign for the office of Recorder at Yaarab Shrine. He and Angela were very busy that year as Bruce was a Deputy Chief Aide and Angela was the Yaarab Shrine decorator. Bruce made it a goal to visit every club and unit that year, 58 in total. On January 4th, 2014 at the Yaarab Annual Election and Business Meeting, he was elected to the Yaarab Shrine Divan to the position of Recorder.
In 2017, as Bruce was elected to High Priest and Profit of Yaarab Shrine, Angela had been sick for 2 months and Bruce had been kidding her that she was pregnant. While Bruce was gone to work one day, Angela decided to take a pregnancy test and the test showed positive that she was pregnant. That night Angela made a nice supper and gave Bruce a gift, the pregnancy test. (Bruce did not have a clue what it was, Angela had to explain what it was to him). They decided they needed to go to the Doctor and let them do a blood test to tell for sure if she was pregnant. She was indeed pregnant. Over the next few days they decided they needed to reveal that they were pregnant to Illustrious Sir Danny Huggins, as there were many questions that had to be answered for Bruce about fulfilling his Divan duties. Danny helped them to make the decision to absolutely stay on the Divan and have the very first Divan baby. Danny proceeded to help Bruce and Angela plan the biggest and best gender reveal ever at the 75th annual Shrine Circus; a firework display that included all of Yaarab Shrine.
In order to do the gender reveal, the results from a DNA test had to be sealed at the doctor’s office and sent off to the folks that do the fireworks for Yaarab Shrine. One of the hardest decisions Bruce and Angela had to make was to send off the gender to the company that does the fireworks at our Circus without first looking at the gender results.
On a very wet day at the 75th annual Yaarab Shrine Circus, Bruce was a nervous wreck. He went to Ill. Sir Danny at one point and said, “what are we going to do with all the rain?” Danny said, “We are going to have a gender reveal no matter what because I and Yaarab Shrine want to know what this child is”! It rained most of the day and around 9:15 p.m. all the Shriners started making their way up to watch the fireworks display (Most of the areas were shut down due to all the rain.). At 9:40 p.m., the sky cleared and at 9:45 p.m., the sky turned pink. There were about 300 nobles and ladies gathered in the rain to enjoy this moment with Bruce, Angela and all of their family. Beautiful McKenzie was born on October 3rd, 2017 as the first Divan baby ever.
Bruce and Angela are members of Spring Place Baptist Church in Chatsworth, Georgia. Raised a Master Mason in August 2005, Bruce joined Yaarab Shrine in the December 2005 “HOT SANDS” Class. Shortly thereafter, he joined Dalton Shrine Club and immediately went to work. He was elected an Officer in 2006 and became president in 2009. It was then that he helped lead Dalton Shrine Club to a very successful year.
At the International White Face clown competition, held in Atlanta, Ga, in 2009, Bruce placed 3rd overall. In 2010, he won 1st place White Face clown at the South Atlantic Shrine Clown Association held in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In addition to this trophy, he also won 1st place in Parade ability and 1-man skit competition. Continuing in 2010, Bruce won 1st place White Face at the Southeastern Shrine Clown Association and 1st place clown skit. Then at the International Shrine Clown Convention, held in Indianapolis, Bruce won 1st place in White Face competition.
Chief Rabban
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Assistant Rabban
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High Priest & Prophet
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Oriental Guide
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Treasurer
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Recorder
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