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. Upon his majority in 2021, 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 2020 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 various state committees including as the Chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence and Legislation in 2018-2019, Chairman of the Teller Committee for the State elections of 2019, Chairman of the Committee on Credentials for 2019-2020, and served 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 where he became the editor for “The Texas Crown” state newsletter in 2023 after previously being a contributor. During the centennial year of DeMolay, he served the constituents of District 2 as District Deputy State Master Councilor. At the 2019 Government Day, he was elected Speaker of the House in a contested race where he received a near-unanimous vote on the first ballot. He served as the Assistant House Clerk from 2020-2023 and has served as House Clerk since 2023. At the various Masonic Youth Weekends, he had been selected as co-captain twice. In 2023, he was named an Honorary Past State Master Councilor by Tyler J. Copenhaver.
On March 17, 2018, Sir Knight Cote was the last member invested into D/FW Priory of the Chivalric Knights of the Holy Order of the Fellow Soldiers of Jacques DeMolay 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, 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. Effective July 14, 2023, “Dad” Cote was appointed by the Executive Officer, “Dad” Tommy F. Chapman, as the 18th State Registrar for the Texas State Priory. In 2023, he was awarded his Green Honor Key for Knighthood recruitment.
Brother Cote was elevated to the rank and dignity of a Chevalier having received the degree on June 23, 2018. He served as Grand Commander of Ben F. Whitley Court of Chevaliers in 2019-2020. He has served as Secretary-Treasurer since 2021. 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 was elected to the line of the State Court in 2025 and is currently serving as State Commander in the West. He has possessed a life membership in the State Court since 2019.
On July 26, 2026, he was elected by DeMolay International to receive the Active Legion of Honor in the centennial class. On September 26, 2026, he was invested with it alongside his father where they became members of the Edward E. Chapman, Sr. Preceptory as well as a Life Member of the Texas State Preceptory. He is also an affiliated member of the Fort Worth Preceptory.
After his Majority in 2021, he became an Adult Volunteer and was promoted to an advisor by the Executive Officer in July of 2021. He currently is an advisor for H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Michie M. Brous Priory, and Texas Chapter, Priory, and Manor At-Large. He served as Council Secretary for the H. Malvern Marks Advisory Council from 2021-2025. He currently is serving as Chapter Advisor. Since 2021, he has served as the Council Secretary for the Priory. From 2024-2025, he was selected as the Adult Registrar for Michie Brous Priory. On May 6, 2021, he became a Charter Member of the Texas DeMolay Alumni Association, and has since been named a “Level I Donor.” He served as the Fort Worth Regional Coordinator of TDAA and additionally filled an unexpired term on the TDAA Board of Directors from 2022-2024, where he was then made the permanent Board Secretary. In July of 2024, he was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the Board of Directors. In 2023, he received a lifetime membership in the DeMolay International Alumni Association. He also has been an annual instructor at the Texas DeMolay Leadership Academy since 2021 and has judged various ritual competitions at previous State Conclaves including being a panel chairman. On July 15, 2021, he was appointed by the Executive Officer, “Dad” Tommy F. Chapman, to become the 1st Assistant State Scribe for the Texas DeMolay Association. Effective July 14, 2023, became the 21st State Scribe for the Texas DeMolay Association serving within the Executive Management. In 2024, “Dad” Cote participated in the institution of Samuel P. Cochran Honorary Chapter and was a member of the inaugural degree team where he was awarded the Medal of Appreciation. On August 2, 2025, he became the District Governor of District 2 where he serves as the Executive Officer’s Representative over 35 counties in North Texas. In 2026, he was selected to represent Texas within Region VI of DeMolay International on the panel for the Representative DeMolay of the Year competition.
Outside of DeMolay, he proudly supports the Masonic Youth as a whole. In 2025, he became a Bronze Level supporter of the Grand Assembly of Texas, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls through their R.A.Y.S. program.
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 serving as Chaplain. He also is a member of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 where he is currently serving as Musician and a member of the lodges’ Fraternal Relations Committee. In 2024, he became an associate member of the Texas Lodge of Research. In 2024, he became a member of the Sam Houston Hall of Fame of the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and Museum. He served the Grand Lodge of Texas as the Worshipful Grand Musician in 2021 and 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 served as the secretary from 2023-2025, and Vice Chairman in 2025. 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. Since 2026, he has served as the Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Communication, District Communication Officer for District 0 and District 64-D, and a member of another Grand Master Planning Team.
Companion Cote was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Tarrant Chapter No. 416 on March 16, 2019 where he is an endowed member and served as their 103rd Most Excellent High Priest from 2024-2025. In 2025, he also affiliated with Stephenville Chapter No. 140 where he is an endowed member and currently an elected officer. 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 of the Texas State Council where for that degree class, he was selected as the class representative. In 2025, he served the Grand Royal Arch Chapter as the last Excellent Grand Organist prior to the name change of “Grand Musician”, a member of the Special Committee on Past Grand High Priest Memorials, and the Assistant State Coordinator for the Planning Team and District Deputy Training Team for V:. E:. Don Paul Payton. He is accredited for sponsoring and passing a constitutional change of legislation at the 176th Grand Annual Convocation. Since 2025, he has served as Chairman of the Committee on Fraternal Correspondence, a member of the Committee on Internet, and as the Editor of the state newsletter, “Through The Veils.” He has had the ceremonial privilege of serving as a pro-tem Excellent Grand Organist at a Grand Annual Convocation. On November 24, 2025, he was commissioned as the Excellent Grand Representative of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Zealand near Texas. He is currently serving as the Excellent Grand Senior Steward and is a member of another Grand High Priest Planning Team.
Companion Cote was greeted as a Royal and Select Master in Tarrant Council No. 349 on April 3, 2019 where he is an endowed member and served as their 99th Thrice Illustrious Master from 2024-2025. In 2025, he also affiliated with Stephenville Council No. 85 where he is an endowed member and currently an elected officer. On June 22, 2019, he received the Super Excellent Master’s degree. He previously served the Grand Council as the Illustrious Grand Organist in 2023. In 2024, he was a member of the Special Committee on Music. He has had the ceremonial privilege of serving as a pro-tem Excellent Grand Organist at a Grand Annual Assembly. In 2025, he served as the last Grand Organist prior to the name change of “Grand Musician”. On December 13, 2024 he was crowned a life member after being anointed as a Thrice Illustrious Master of 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 Right Illustrious District Deputy Grand Master of District 19. He is also accredited for sponsoring and passing a constitutional change of legislation at the 119th Grand Annual Assembly since rehabilitation. He is currently the Chairman of the Committee on Internet and a member of a Grand Master’s Planning Team.
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. On November 16, 2019, he was knighted upon receiving the valiant and magnanimous Order of the Temple in Stephenville Commandery No. 100 where he is currently the Captain General and an endowed member. He has served the Grand Commandery of Texas by being on planning teams in 2023 and 2025 and is currently on another. 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 the de facto Chairman of the Committee since 2024. He has had the ceremonial privilege of serving as a pro-tem Eminent Grand Recorder at a Grand Annual 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 was an active member of the Tarrant County York Rite Association from 2019 until its dissolution in 2026. 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 is serving as Noble Sentinel. He later was admitted to the Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers, and Bricklayers (Operatives) on August 20, 2024, in Parker County Courthouse Assemblage, where he currently is an Fitter and Marker of the IIIº and holds the appointed office of Deputy Master Mason’s Deacon.
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 currently is a member of the Fort Worth Valley’s Stage Committee and was inducted into the Fort Worth Flight of the Royal Order of the Duck on April 18, 2026. 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. He also is a member of the Masonic Philosophical Society.