In 1927 , Louisiana , Arkansas , and Mississippi were ravaged by the worst flood in American History , the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 . 27,000 square miles of land were flooded to depths as deep as 30 feet , and over 600,000 people were affected . A 1931 biography explains his involvement in the flood relief : " In 1927 when the State of Louisiana was devastated by the greatest flood in its history and homes were desolated , farms destroyed and the people of Louisiana and the members of the Masonic Fraternity were suffering from the greatest privations , a Masonic Flood Relief Board was organized , composed of the Grand Masters of Arkansas , Louisiana and Mississippi , in association with the Masonic Service Association of the United States . In casting about for an executive secretary of intelligence , business ability and experience , who might be willing to turn aside from his own personal business and affairs and devote his time and energy to the collection of a relief fund , the name of Brother Sykes was suggested and he was called before the Masonic Board of Flood Relief and the proposition submitted to him . He was asked to say whether or not he would undertake the work and to name the compensation he would expect therefor . His response was the immediate acceptance of the appointment , subject , however , to the stipulation that his service was to be without fee or reward . How he handled the stupendous labor connected with the collection of more than $ 600,000.00 of flood relief funds over a period of approximately four months ; how he wrote and answered thousands of letters to the contributors to that fund , is a matter of Masonic history . " In 1920 , he was a delegate for the state of Louisiana to the Masonic Imperial Session in Portland , Oregon , where it was resolved to establish Shriners Hospitals for Children . He was a major early benefactor and stayed very involved with the first hospital in Shreveport , Louisiana until his death . There are now 22 Shriners Hospitals . He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home For Children at Alexandria , Louisiana
Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
Ernest Eugene Sykes