William Childers
I was born December 15, 1939 in Springfield, Illinois to Roy and Arcella Childers. I left home at the age of 13 years and traveled back and forth across this great Country of ours in search of something better than what was. During these travels I was befriended by a young Indian of my age who invited me to his home on his reservation in Oklahoma. I spent 6 months with him and his family and during that short time I learned more about life than I would have in any classroom. At the age of 17 years and four days I enlisted in the US Army. I was assigned to the Redstone Ballistic Missile, 630th Ordinance Co. Nekarsulm, Germany from 1957-1960, and again from 1963-1966. During my tour of duty in Europe I was a member of the US Army Europe pistol team. I was reassigned to the White Sands Missile Range, NM, Research & Development from 1966 to 1969. I took a break in military service to affect a career change. I was a police detective at Las Cruces, NM from 1969- 1971 during which time I formulated, coached and led the police pistol team to a silver medal at the International Shooting Games in Mexico City. In 1971 I returned to active duty as Chief, Military Police Investigations at White Sands Missile Range, NM. In 1972 I became a Special Agent with the US Army Criminal Investigation Division Command. I completed two tours in Korea. I was the firearms instructor at each assigned office. During my military service I attended various colleges and accumulated sufficient credits for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. I retired from the US Army in 1979. I was awarded the meritorious service medal (second oak leaf cluster), good conduct medals and various other ribbons and awards. I returned to White Sands Missile Range, NM as a Government employee where I achieved the grade of GS-13 Team Leader for the Reliability – Availability – and Maintainability tests on the Patriot Air Defense Missile System and the Pedestal Mounted Stinger used so effectively in the Gulf war. I retired from White Sands Missile Range in December 1999 and now reside in Las Cruces, NM with my wife of 34 years. From 2000 to 2007 I was a Special Investigator for the Federal Bureau of Investigations Back Ground Investigations Contract Services. In February 2007 I joined the ranks of the fully retired. I have 5 children and 8 grand children who reside in California and Massachusetts.
I joined Freemasonry in 1992. I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on March 16, 1994 at a “continuation day session". I entered the officer’s line at Jornada Lodge #70 in 1995 and progressed through the line to Worshipful Master in 2001 and 2002. At the request of the Brethren I occupied the vacant Senior Warden’s chair in 2006 and was elected Worshipful Master again in 2007. In December 2007 I was awarded KCCH status as a Scottish Rite Mason. I am also a Knights Templar York Rite mason and a life member of the blue lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, and a member of the Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill. In March 2008 I was appointed by Most Worshipful Brother Jay Harris as the Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Mason of New Mexico. In March of 2010 I was elected by the Brethren to be their Junior Grand Warden of this jurisdiction and in March, 2011 they elected me to be their Senior Grand Warden. In March, 2012 as I continue my progression through the Grand Lodge line, the Brethren saw fit to elect me as their Deputy Grand Master. I wish to reiterate to you that I take previous appointments and my most recent election very seriously and I look forward at doing my utmost to meet the expectations as established by this jurisdiction and Freemasons every where.
