James Byrd Wall

James B. “Jim” Wall passed away on May 11, 2022 in Louisville Kentucky. Jim was preceded in death by his first wife Marie, and also his second wife Vivian; his son James B. Wall II; and a sister. He is survived by a brother, Sherman Wall of Illinois. James B. “Jim” Wall was born in Cairo, Illinois on September 17, 1929. He was educated in the public schools there and graduated from Mound City Community High School in 1947. He later attended Austin Peay State College in Clarksville, Tennessee. Jim was an automobile mechanic until he joined the U.S. Army, where he served with distinction both at home and abroad. He served in both the Pacific and European Theaters. He was stationed in Korea from 1952 to 1953, and in Germany from 1956 to 1959 and again from 1962 to 1965. He was in Vietnam twice from 1966 to 1967 and again from 1969 to 1970. Jim was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service medal, The Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, a Presidential Unit Citation from the United States as well as a Presidential Unit Citation from the Republic of Korea, and a Meritorious Unit Citation with Oak leaf Cluster. He retired from the Army in 1971 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer, and was a life member of Pleasure Valley Post # 1181, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was later employed as a security officer at the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis. In 1960 Jim married Darlie Marie Rigdon and they were blessed with one son, James B. Wall II. Jim’s Masonic career started in Valley Chapter Order of DeMolay, were he served as Past Master Councilor. He was a member of the Order of Knighthood of DeMolay. He was raised a Master Mason in Trinity Lodge # 562, A.F.& A.M. of Mound City Illinois and affiliated with Freidrich Wilheim von Stuben Lodge # 837, A.F.&A.M. of Bad Krenuznach Germany where he served as Master in 1964. He was the Grand Master’s Representative and a Grand Trustee. He was a member of Pleasure Ridge Park Lodge # 959 having served as Secretary from 1973 to 1976. He is Past President of Central Kentucky Past Masters Society and served as Secretary — Treasurer for many years. He was an honorary member of C. Frye Haley past Masters Society and Past President of the Jefferson County Masonic Secretaries Association. Jim was a Past High Priest of both Vine Grove Chapter # 145 and King Solomon Chapter # 5 of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Kentucky. He served as an Area Coordinator for Area V from 1975 to 1978 and was the Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of Texas near Kentucky. He served as President of the Holy Order of High Priesthood and as secretary for many years. Jim was elected as Grand Captain of the Hosts of the Grand Chapter of Kentucky in 1976 and advanced through the line to serve as the Most Excellent Grand High Priest in 1979. He served the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International as the Executive Director of Royal Arch Research Assistance, (RARA) from 1984 to 2011. Jim has been honored by the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International by being awarded the General Grand Chapter Distinguished Service Silver medal in 1996, and the General Grand Chapter Distinguished Service Gold Medal in 1999. One of a very select few to have been awarded both of these honors. He received the Ephraim Kirby Award from the General Grand Chapter in 2014, and the Kentucky LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD in 2014 as well. He was a member of both Hocker Council # 89 and Vine Grove Council, (now Hardin council # 115) and Louisville Council # 4. He served as Grand Marshall of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Kentucky in 1975-1976. He was a Past Illustrious Prince of the South in Kentucky Council of Anointed Kings, Order of the Silver Trowel. Jim served a Commander of Elizabethtown Commandery # 37, (now Conrad Cates) and is a dual member of Louisville-DeMolay Commandery # 12, where he was elected as an Affiliated Past Commander and was awarded the DeMolay Commandery Award of Merit for outstanding service. Jim was honored by being awarded the Knight Templar Cross of Honor in 1984. Jim was a member of Louisville Consistory A.A.S.R. and served as Commander of the Council Knights Kadosh and as Master of Kadosh of Louisville Consistory. He was decorated with the rank and dignity of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, (K.C.C.H.) in 1977, and elected as a Honorary Inspector General of the 33rd Degree in 1987. He became a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Moslah Temple, Fort Worth Texas and transferred to Kosair Temple in Louisville Kentucky. He is an Honorary Member of Hadi Temple, Evansville Indiana. Other Masonic affiliations were Friendship Court # 22 Order of Amaranth, where he served as Royall Patron. He also had served as Deputy Grand Royal Patron of the Grand Court of the Order of Amaranth of Kentucky; order of the Eastern Star and Louisville Shrine # 1, White Shrine of Jerusalem. Past President and Member in Perpetuity of Kentucky Chapter #134 National Sojourners and member of Daniel Boone Chapter # 512; National Sojourners, Old Hickory Camp, HEROS of ’76, where he served as Regional Representative for Kentucky to the National Sojourners from 1971 to 1976. Jim was proud to be known as an “Old Flag Waver” and gave many presentations and talks highlighting “Old Glory”. He was truly the epitome of Patriotism. Jim was a Kentucky Colonel and an Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville. He served as the Treasurer for the State Committee of the Kentucky Medal of Honor Grove, with Kentucky’s portion of the Grove located at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The long and distinguished career of James B. Wall has few equals and no betters. May he rest in eternal peace..