Joe B. McNeal was born November 4, 1936 in Ossining, New York. He joined the U.S. Air Force, and retired in 1980 as a Master Sergeant, with 26 years of military service. He owned “Joe B. Que” in Mtn. Home for five years, giving it up to pursue a political career. In 1987, he was elected the first Black American and military person to become City Councilman for Mtn. Home Id, from 1988 until 1996. From 2004 to 2008 he served as mayor. He was the first black person in Idaho’s history, to served in the Senate, the House of Representa-tives, and the Legislature for the state of Idaho, and the second to serve in Idaho as an elected Municipal Officer. Joe B.’s tenure as mayor of Mtn. Home included facilities upgrades, increased commercial develop-ment, and establishment of the Urban Renewal District, helped establish the Beautification Board and the Parks and Recreation Board to support beautification and revitalization through 2029. He supported the 2004 expansion of the Mtn. Home Public Library, and oversaw the naming of the Claire Weatherall Park and Don Etter Park. Joe B. brought in the Marathon Cheese Corporation that opened in 2007 as Mtn. Home’s largest employer.

Joe B. was appointed to the Idaho Commission on Human Rights in 2009. As the Idaho State President and National Treasury of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, he was instrumental in establishing the Mtn. Home Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, and Juneteenth Day, making Idaho the fifth state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. He served on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Black History Museum, the El-Ada Community Action Partnership, and was the President of the Boise, Ada, Emore Branch of the NAACP, and Co-founder and Advisor to the Mtn. Home Community Black History Committee. November 1, 2025, Joe B. (and wife Mildred) were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 80th Mtn. Home Chamber Installation Banquet and Awards Ceremony.

Joe B. as a Master Mason over 50 years, was the founder of the “Zem Zem Shrine Club” in Mt Home. (Only President and the only club in the West that was visited by the Imperial Potentate for its annual Air Force Appre-ciation Parade. He was the President of the Eagles Club of Mt. Home for the United Supreme Council Ancient Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, NJ USA Inc. First Prince Hall Shriner’s to march in public in the state of Idaho.) He was a part of the King Solomon Royal Arch Chapter #12, and served with distinct distinc-tion as Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Potentate. He was a Honorary Past Grand Master, Honorary Past High Priest, Honorary Past Imperial Potentate, and Honorary Past Master of Nevada Jurisdiction, and was a 33rd degree mason Prince Hall affiliated. Joe B. was the Chairman of the Recognition Committee appointed by PGM Dan Lunsford between Idaho, Washington, and Nevada of the White Grand Lodge. He was Chairman of the Fraternal Friendship Banquet that honored the Grand Master’s to Idaho. Serviced under 17 Past Grand Masters as a Grand Junior Deacon, Grand Senior Deacon, SDDGM, and was currently Chair of the Grievances and Appeals Committees. Joe B. loved to issue Idaho potato pins when-ever he was out of state, and is know all over the Prince Hall Masonic Jurisdictions, as well as other Jurisdictions in the United States.

Joe B. in his spare time, enjoyed sitting on the couch yelling “What are they doing!?” at his Las Vegas Raiders football team and Golden State Warriors basketball team; or flipping the channels with the remote control, shopping on line, gourmet cooking, traveling, and helping his family and friends. But, the best part of his life is his wife, Mildred who he was severely dedicated to for 70 years. If anyone knows Joe B., he always signs off on every occasion when possible, raising his glass, offering his favorite toast; “May our wives and our sweethearts never met!” Here! Here! Joe B. has been a part of The Air Force Appreciation Day (AFAD) and parade at Carl Miller Park in Moun-tain Home, Idaho, follow by his annual evening “Back Yard Party” open to the community for over 40 years! Joe B. has been a member of First Congregation Church since 1978, serving as a Liturgist, Vacation Bible School teacher, and Cook for over 30 years for the Easter Breakfast, MLK Celebration, and Black History Month fellowship.

Joe B. McNeal is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Mildred F. (Howard) McNeal of Mtn. Home ID; his five children: Patricia McNeal of Henderson, NC; Joseph B. McNeal IV (deceased) (Sharon Bigelow) McNeal of Boise ID; Dr. Deborah Hampton (Toney Hamp-ton) of Tacoma, WA; Sharon D. Dixon (Alfred Dixon Sr.) of San Antonio, TX; Stephanie L. Moore (Philander Moore Sr.) of Austin, TX; Richard McNeal (Nephew) of Oakland CA (Mr. Paul Hartsook of Medford, Or. Grandchildren: Taurus Howard of Henderson NC, Allison Dixon, Alfred Dixon Jr., Alexander Dixon of Schertz, TX; Philander Moore Jr. of Austin, TX; Dr. Joseph B. McNeal V (Rachel Chopka McNeal) of Fairfield CA; Zoë McNeal (William Louth) of Boise, ID. Grandchildren: Alfred Dixon II, Apollo Dixon, Philander E. Moore III. Great Great-grandchildren: Avery Dixon and Autumn Dixon; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.