Grand Wizard
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (March 2022) |
The Grand Wizard was the head of the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan which was founded in 1865. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, founded in 1915, styled their highest-ranking leader the Imperial Wizard. National officers were styled "Imperial" officers. State or "Realm" officers were styled "Grand" officers. For example, a "Grand Dragon" was the highest-ranking Klansman in a given state.
Grand wizards or imperial wizards
1915–1944
This list excludes those Grand or Imperial Wizards of independent Klan factions:
- William Joseph Simmons, Imperial Wizard, second Klan, 1915–1922[1]
- Hiram Wesley Evans, Imperial Wizard, second Klan, 1922–1939[2]
- James A. Colescott, Imperial Wizard, second Klan, 1939–1944;[3] Colescott disbanded the KKK in 1944.[4]
Post World War II
|
Major Klan leaders following the disbandment of the second Klan:
- Samuel Green, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klu Klan, 1946-1949, Green reformed the KKK in 1946
- Samuel Roper, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klu Klan 1949-1950
- Eldon Edwards, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klu Klan, 1950-1959,
- Roy Elonzo Davis, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klu Klan, Knights of the Flaming Sword 1959-1964. Both organizations disbanded.
- Robert Shelton, Grand Wizard, United Klans of America Inc., 1961-1987, Shelton started a new branch of the KKK
- David Duke, Imperial Wizard, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, 1974-1981, Duke started a new branch of the KKK
- James K. Dale, Imperial Wizard, UK Branch, 2014–2017
- Rad U. Estherson, Imperial Wizard, UK Branch, 2017–
See also
References
Sources
- Wade, Wyn Craig (1987). The Fiery Cross: the Ku Klux Klan in America. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 978-0-671-41476-4. OCLC 652217460 – via Internet Archive.
 | This organization-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |