MOGMWHill
WILLIAM J. HILL 1924-2015
Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive
Grand Master, 1981-1982
BIOGRAPHY
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
Grand Master William J. Hill was a third generation Freemason and came from a family of Masons. In 1895, he maternal grandfather, David Kelvey Latta, was made a Mason in St John Royal Arch, Slat-coats Ardrossan Lodge No 320, Ardossan, Scotland. His father Earl W. Hill was raised a Mastrer Mason in Keystone Lodge No 102, Coffeyville, Kansas and later transferred his membership to Ivanhoe Lodge No 446, Kansas City, Missouri. Brother Hill's great Uncle was a Charter member of Brotherhood Lodge No 269, St Joseph, Missouri and his mother's only brother was a member of an Oklahoma Lodge. Bill Hill was initiated in Ivanhoe Lodge No 446 on February 18, 1955. He served as Master of the Lodge in 1963 and served on the Board of Directors of the Lodge from 1973 until 1980.
In 1963 he was appointed DDGM of the 22nd Masonic District He served for seven years on the Grand Lodge Jurisprudence Committee and in 1974 was appointed Senior Grand Marshall by Grand Master Walter "Bud" Walker.
He served on the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home and was instrumental in initating and developing a study of the fund raising petential for the Western Unit of the Masonic Home, located in Kansas City. He launched the "Penny a Day" fund raising program for the Masonic Home.
Brother Hill was a 32nd degree KCCH member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Kansas City and was coronated a 33rd degree. He served as Master of the Lodge of Perfection and Personal Representative of the SGIG for the Valley of Kansas City.
He was a member of Kansas City Chapter No 28, RAM, Kansas City Council No 45 R&SM and Kansas City Commandery No 10 KT, Mary Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, serving as Sovereign i 1980 and a member of Ararat Shrine.
Brother Hill was born in Coffeyville, Kansas on August 4, 1924, educated in the Kansas City Public Schools and following service with the 35th Infantry Division in all five campaigns in the "European Theater" graduated form the University of Missouri at Columbia with a Juris Doctorate in 1951. Brother Hill was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and Lambda Chi Alpha Social Fraternity.
Bill Hill married Jo Ann Graham and they had two Daughters and six grandsons. The Hills lived in the historic William Rockhill Nelson Area of Kansas City. Brother Hill passed away June 21, 2015 with a memorial service on August 28th at the Longview Chapel Christian Church, Lees Summit, Missouri, without any Masonic Services.
