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General André Cox adds three to highest honor
In the second of three Order of the Founder presentations during Boundless 2015, General André Cox admitted Western Territory soldier William Flinn to the Army’s highest award for distinguished service.
Inaugurated in 1917 by General Bramwell Booth with the first awards made in 1920, just 269 people are members of the Order of the Founder today.
Born in Darby, Pa., Flinn moved to Southern California in 1976 and has led songster and band groups for more than 40 years. He first became bandmaster of the Roxborough Citadel Band at the age of 16, and today is bandmaster at the Pasadena Tabernacle Corps.
He has served on the corps advisory board, and will soon be the first soldier to be inducted as a U.S. National Advisory Board member.
He worked in the Southern California Divisional public relations department with additional duties as divisional music director, and led the Army’s Tournament of Roses Rose Parade band for a number of years. Now as chief executive officer of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, he continues to respond to invitations to be guest conductor, speaker and faculty member at various Salvation Army music schools, institutes and conferences throughout North America.
Flinn is actively involved in the weekly worship and fellowship activities of the Pasadena Tabernacle Corps, having also served as songster leader for 23 years and as youth band leader.
He is a member of The Salvation Army’s Crestmont Council at the College for Officer Training, and currently serves as chairman of that body. He was awarded The Salvation Army’s National Award for Exceptional Service as well as receiving numerous other awards and recognition for his community service.
He was admitted to the Order of the Founder during The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary congress alongside General Eva Booth posthumously, the 14th General of The Salvation Army, and Divisional Envoy Iris Jones, who has led ministry in her corps, including a public house ministry three nights a week, for 30 years.
