The grand wizard (sometimes called the imperial wizard or national director) is the national leader of several different
Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to KKK or Klan, is an American Protestant-led Christian terrorism, Christian extremist, white supremacist, Right-wing terrorism, far-right hate group. It was founded in 1865 during Reconstruction era, ...
organizations in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and abroad.
The title "Grand Wizard" was used by the first Klan which was founded in 1865 and which existed during the
Reconstruction era
The Reconstruction era was a period in History of the United States, US history that followed the American Civil War (1861-65) and was dominated by the legal, social, and political challenges of the Abolitionism in the United States, abol ...
until 1872. The title was chosen because General Forrest had been known as "The Wizard of the Saddle" during the
Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
.
The second Klan, founded in 1915, styled their national 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.
National leaders of the Ku Klux Klan
This list includes grand or imperial wizards of major Klan factions and excludes those of independent Klan factions:
The first Klan (1865–1872)
The Ku Klux Klan was founded by six confederate veterans in 1865 but did not elect a Grand Wizard until after
Nathan Bedford Forrest joined in 1867.
* Nathan Bedford Forrest, Grand Wizard, 1867–1869,
Forrest resigned in 1869 and ordered the KKK dissolved although the group remained active until 1872
The second Klan (1915–1944)
*
William Joseph Simmons, Imperial Wizard, second Klan, 1915–1922
*
Hiram Wesley Evans, Imperial Wizard, second Klan, 1922–1939
*
James A. Colescott, Imperial Wizard, second Klan, 1939–1944; Colescott disbanded the KKK in 1944.
The third Klan (post–World War II)
Major Klan leaders following the disbandment of the second Klan:
*
Samuel Green, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, 1949, Green reformed the KKK in 1946
*
Samuel Roper, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan 1949–1950
[Staff report (August 28, 1949). Ex-Chief of Georgia G-men is new head of Ku Klux Klan. '']Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
''
*
Eldon Edwards, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, 1950–1959
[Staff report (March 4, 1986). Samuel W. Roper, 90, was second director of GBI in early 1940s. '' Atlanta Journal-Constitution'']
*
Roy Elonzo Davis, Imperial Wizard, Original Knights of the Ku Klux 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
[ ]
* Bill Wilkinson, Imperial Wizard, Invisible Empire Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, 1975–1981, Wilkinson formed a competing branch which, at the time, was the largest national KKK organization
*
Thomas Robb, National Director, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, 1989–present
See also
*
Ku Klux Klan titles and vocabulary
*
Ernie Roth, billed as "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling"
References
Ku Klux Klan
Titles
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