The Desert of California was established in 1960 in the Oasis of Oakland. The first Desert Conference was held November 25 - 26, 1960 at Menelik Temple Mosque No. 36; located at 925 - 30th Street in the Oasis of Oakland. Walter C. Taylor, Imperial Deputy of the Desert of California presiding. Menelik Temple No. 36, (Oakland) and Thutmose Temple No. 74, (San Francisco) acted as co-host. The following dignitaries were in attendance: The Honorable Booker T. Alexander, Imperial Potentate A.E.A.O.N.M.S. Inc, The Honorable Roscoe C. Washington, Imperial Assistant Rabban, James C. Purnell (64) Imperial Deputy of the Desert of Oregon, Jerome L. Hubert (5) Imperial Deputy of the Oasis of Los Angeles, Burney J. Williams (36) Imperial Deputy of the Oasis of Oakland, Emmett L. Draper (74) Imperial Deputy of the Oasis of San Francisco, Augustus Holdelaw (102) Imperial Deputy of the Oasis of San Diego, The Honorable Herbert A. Greenwood, MWGM of the MWPHGL State of CA Inc., Harvey Chisom (36) Ill. Deputy of the Valley A.A.S.R., Theodore Moss (5) Past Most Worshipful Grand Master, Archille W. Herbert (5) Illustrious Master Knight Supreme Council Order of the Knights of Pythagoras
The first meeting of the Desert of California was called to order at 10 a.m. The following Temples and their representatives were present for roll call:1. Egyptian Temple # 5, Los Angeles, CA – Gilbert Lindsey, Illustrious Potentate, 2. Menelik Temple # 36, Oakland, CA – C. D. Cannon, Illustrious Potentate, 3. Thutmose Temple # 74, San Francisco, CA – F. C. Joseph, Illustrious Potentate, 4. Isis Temple # 102, San Diego, CA – Autery Porter, Illustrious Potentate, 5. Muharram Temple U.D., Santa Monica, CA – John L. Thompson, Illustrious Potentate, 6. Sheik Temple U.D., Riverside, CA – E. A. Ferguson, Illustrious Potentate
Other members of the Desert present at this historical event were: Roy Moore (5), Norman I. Roberts (74), Gilbert P. Jones (36), James Miller (36), Chauncey L. Roane (74), James Miller (36), Vernon Strange (5), Alfred Thompson (95), M. Robinson Baker (36), A. R. McDonald (36), John W. Payne (74), Harvey Peart (36), John Wiley (74), Ralph H. Carney (74), George Holdert (5).
Since the formation of the Desert of California, eleven Nobles have served as Deputy of the Desert of California: 1. Walter C. Taylor - 1960 to 1961, Menelik Temple # 36,2. Jerome Hubert – 1961 to 1968, Egyptian Temple # 5, 3. Robert W. Brown – 1968 to 1972, Muharram Temple # 95, 4. Clarence Brown – 1972 to 1976, Thutmose Temple # 74, 5. Waddell Robinson – 1976 to 1978, Egyptian Temple # 5, 6. Frank J. Butler – 1978 to 1990, Menelik Temple # 36, 7. Robert Gerard – 1990 to 1993, Isis Temple # 102, 8. George L. Greene – 1993 to 1996, Saphar Temple # 117, 9. George H. Garlington – 1996 to 2004, Alooma Temple # 212, 10. Samuel K. Barlow – 2004 to 2006, Alcazar Temple # 179, 11. Dr. Terrell A. Gray, Sr. – 2007 to 2012, Thutmose Temple # 74, Jimmie D. Boatright, Jr. – 2012 to 2018 , Egyptian Temple # 5, Gerald Stringer – 2018 to Present, Alooma Temple # 212