Michael Joyal Cote II joined Legacy Manor of Squires, Order of DeMolay in late 2011. A few months later, he received his Initiatory Degree and DeMolay Degree into Legacy Chapter in Midlothian, Texas, on February 18, 2012, later dualing and then transferring to H. Malvern Marks Chapter in Fort Worth, Texas. He held nearly every office, including Organist, during his full nine years as an Active DeMolay. He was installed as Master Councilor twice; once in 2017 and another in 2019. Beginning in 2017, he was selected to be the Scribe and served his Chapter for seven terms, earning his infamous nickname, “Scribble.” Upon his majority, he was named Scribe-Emeritus by his Advisory Council. As an active member, Brother Cote was awarded the Representative DeMolay Award, Founder’s Membership Award, Centennial Pro-Merito Award, the Lamp of Knowledge and earned a multitude of merit bars of all ranks, achieving his triple header. He additionally had been on winning teams and competed in various ritual and athletics competitions at various Masonic Youth Weekends, State Conclaves, Frank Marshall Championship Tournaments, as well as the Oklahoma DeMolay Leadership Conference. In the Texas DeMolay Association, he served as State Junior Deacon in 2018 and State Senior Deacon in 2019. He served on many state committees, including being the Chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence and Legislation in 2018-2019 and was selected as Chairman of the Teller Committee for the State elections of 2019. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Credentials for 2019-2020 and as a member of the Special Committee on State Initiation in 2020-2021. As both an active and senior member, he served on The Texas Crown Committee and currently is the editor for “The Texas Crown” state newsletter. During the centennial year of DeMolay, he served the constituents of District 2 as District Deputy State Master Councilor. At the 2023 Conclave, he was named an Honorary Past State Master Councilor by Tyler J. Copenhaver. At the 2019 Government Day, he was elected Speaker of the House, where he received a near-unanimous vote on the first ballot. He served as the assistant Clerk of the House from 2020-2023 and became the Clerk of the House in 2023. At the various Masonic Youth Weekends, he had been selected as co-captain twice.
On March 17, 2018, Sir Knight Cote was the last member invested in D/FW Priory before the name changed to Michie Brous Priory. He served the first full term of Illustrious Knight Commander of the formally changed name Priory in the fall of 2018. After his short term in the east, where the Priory doubled in size, he was selected to serve as Registrar, where he served for several years until his majority. In 2019, he served as State Senior Deacon and was named an Honorary Deputy State Illustrious Knight Commander by K. Lee Klump while serving as the State Priory Coordinator. In 2020, he served as State Prior. In 2023, he was awarded his Green Honor Key for recruitment. From 2024-2025, he was selected as the Adult Registrar for Michie Brous Priory.
Brother Cote was elevated to the rank and dignity of a Chevalier on June 23, 2018. He served as Grand Commander of Ben F. Whitley Court of Chevaliers in 2019-2020. Since 2021, he has been continuously re-elected to serve as Secretary-Treasurer. He has previously served the Texas State Court with two terms as a State Court Co-Standard Bearer 2019-2021, State Court Marshal 2022-2023 and State Court Chaplain 2023-2024. He has possessed a life membership in the State Court since 2019. He is currently in the elected line of the State Court, serving as State Commander in the South, slated to preside for 2027-2028.
After his Majority in 2021, he became an Adult Volunteer and was promoted to an advisor by the Executive Officer in July of 2021. Since that time, he has served as Council Secretary for the Advisory Councils of both his Chapter and Priory. On May 6, 2021, he became one of one hundred Charter Members of the Texas DeMolay Alumni Association, holding badge No. 10, and has since been named an “Associate II Donor.” He has served as the Fort Worth Regional Coordinator since October 30, 2022, and previously filled an unexpired term on the State Board of Directors (2022-2024). Currently, he is the permanent Board Secretary. In 2023, he received a lifetime membership in the DeMolay International Alumni Association. He has also been an annual instructor at the Texas DeMolay Leadership Academy since 2021. On July 15, 2021, he was appointed by “Dad” Tommy F. Chapman to become the 1st Assistant State Scribe for the Texas DeMolay Association. Effective July 14, 2023, “Dad” Cote became the 21st State Scribe and the 18th State Registrar for the Texas DeMolay Bodies and continues to serve within the Executive Management. He currently is an advisor for H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Michie M. Brous Priory and Texas At-Large. He is also a State Social Media Advisor and a State Website Administrator. On January 19, 2024, “Dad” Cote participated in the institution of the Samuel P. Cochran Honorary Chapter and was a member of the inaugural degree team. That night, he was also awarded the Medal of Appreciation for his contributions. Additionally, on August 2, 2025, he was appointed the District Governor of District 2, serving as the Executive Officer’s Representative over 35 counties in North Texas.
Brother Cote was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on August 18, 2018, in Glen Rose Lodge No. 525 in Glen Rose, Texas. He later joined Stockyard Lodge No. 1244 in Fort Worth, Texas, serving as their 94th Worshipful Master (2023-2024), is an endowed member and is currently an appointed officer. He is also a member of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000, where he is currently serving as Musician and a member of the lodge’s Fraternal Relations Committee. In 2024, he became an associate member of the Texas Lodge of Research. He served the Grand Lodge of Texas as the Worshipful Grand Musician in 2021 and again in 2024. He was selected as the Installing Grand Musician for the 2023 Grand Lodge Installation. He has had the ceremonial privilege of serving as a pro-tem Worshipful Grand Musician, Worshipful Grand Junior Deacon and Right Worshipful Grand Senior Warden during various Grand Annual Communications. In 2023, he was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Grand Lodge Committee of Youth Activities, where he became the committee secretary and served from 2023-2025. He is currently the Vice Chairman. In 2024, he was a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Special Assignments as well as a member of R:. W:. Chapman’s planning team. Presently, he is a member of two other Grand Master Planning Teams. In 2024, he became a member of the Sam Houston Hall of Fame of the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum.
Companion Cote was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Tarrant Chapter No. 416 on March 16, 2019. He is an endowed member and served as their 103rd Most Excellent High Priest from 2024-2025. Since 2017, before he was a Mason, he has served as a member of the Stage and Sound Committee for the Masonic Family Day Planning Team. On December 13, 2024, he was anointed, consecrated and set apart as an Anointed High Priest in the Order of High Priesthood (Order of Melchizedek) of Texas State Council, where, for that degree class, he was selected as the class representative. He is presently serving the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas as the Excellent Grand Organist, the Assistant State Coordinator for the Grand High Priest’s Planning Team and District Deputy Training Team, a member of the Committee on Internet, a member of the Special Committee on Past Grand High Priest Memorials and is the Chairman of the Committee on Fraternal Correspondence. He is also a member of another Grand High Priest Planning Team. Starting in 2025, he became the Editor of the state newsletter, “Through The Veils.”
Companion Cote was greeted as a Royal and Select Master in Tarrant Council No. 349 on April 3, 2019. He is an endowed member and served as their 99th Thrice Illustrious Master from 2024-2025. On June 22, 2019, he received the Super Excellent Master’s degree. He previously served the Grand Council of Texas as the Illustrious Grand Organist in 2023 and is currently serving that office again for 2025. In 2024, he was a member of the Special Committee on Music. On December 13, 2024, he was crowned a life member after being anointed as a Thrice Illustrious Master of the Texas Council of Anointed Kings of the Order of the Silver Trowel. For that degree class, he was selected as the class representative and the exemplary candidate. In 2025, he was deputized as a District Deputy Grand Master for special assignments within District 19.
Sir Knight Cote received the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross and the Order of Malta on October 19, 2019. Later on, he formally received the Mediterranean Pass, naming him a Knight of St. Paul. He was later knighted upon receiving the valiant and magnanimous Order of the Temple in Stephenville Commandery No. 100 on November 16, 2019. He has served the Grand Commandery of Texas by being on planning teams in 2023, 2024 and 2025. In 2023, he was appointed an Aide-de-Camp. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Committee on Electronic Communications, where he has been the Social Media Coordinator as well as the Editor of the state newsletter, “The Texas Templar”. He has served as a website administrator and de facto Chairman of said committee since 2024. He has had the ceremonial privilege of serving as a pro-tem Eminent Grand Recorder at a Grand Conclave. On April 15, 2023, he was commissioned as a Templar Chaplain through the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar USA. In late 2023, he completed the Grand Encampment educational courses, certifying him a “Templar Ritualist” in all three orders, as well as having the rank and title of “Grand Templar Historian” bestowed upon him.
Continuing in his York Rite journey, he is a member of the Tarrant County York Rite Association. On November 29, 2022, Companion Knight Cote was dubbed and raised to the nobility of a Knight of York by receiving the invitational Order of York in Trinity York Rite College No. 154 in Fort Worth, Texas, where he currently serves as Noble Sentinel. He was later admitted to the Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers and Bricklayers (“The Operatives”) on August 20, 2024, in Parker County Courthouse Assemblage, where he currently is an accepted Super Fellow Fitter and Marker of the IIIº.
On July 24, 2019, Brother Cote was elected to receive an invitational honorary membership into General William J. Worth Chapter No. 463 of the National Sojourners, where he is a member in perpetuity.
Noble Cote became a Worthy Noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS) in Moslah Temple on April 8, 2021, and is currently in general nobility. He is also a member of the 100 Million Dollar Club.
Prophet Cote received the Order of Veiled Prophets in Cowboy Grotto under the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (MOVPER) on May 25, 2022, where he is a Charter Member. He is currently in the officer line. In 2022, he became the first member of his Grotto to receive an Enchanted Lantern for humanitarianism.
Brother Cote became a Master of the Royal Secret on October 1, 2022, in the Fort Worth Valley of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (AASR). He holds the rank of 32nd degree and has previously served as an officer in the Consistory. He is currently a member of the Fort Worth Valley’s Stage Committee. On June 6, 2023, he received the Order of the Thistle, becoming a Squire of the Knights of St. Andrew. He successfully completed the Master Craftsman College and Leadership Academy in 2024 and was decorated as an accomplished graduate.