William L. Greene – 2007

M.W. William L. Greene – 2007

 

William LeRoy Greene was born on March 24, 1941 in Willimantic Connecticut to Alvin Clifford and Dorothy (Wilson) Greene.  He was the youngest of the family, having two older brothers, the late Alvin Clifford Greene, Jr. and the late Robert Ernest Greene.  He grew up in Willimantic graduating as Salutatorian of this class from Windham Regional Technical School in 1959, and then spent the next three years in the U.S. Army.  Bill is retired from Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, where he worked for 40 years, hiring into their three year Machinist Apprentice program.  After graduation from the program he spent one year in development work, eleven years as a Shop Foreman, nineteen years in Manufacturing Engineering, and six years in Quality Assurance.  Bill is a Certified Electroplater – Finisher by the American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society, a Certified Electrostatic (ESD) Technician by the National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers, Inc., and a member in the American Welding Society.  He is a Life Member of the United States Air Force Association.MW Bill is married to Sandra (Clocher) Greene who he affectionately calls “Chipmunk”.  Sandie was from Salem Massachusetts where she lived all her life prior to marrying Bill.  They met in April 1983 in Burlington, Vermont, at the New England Square Dance Convention, and were married in October of the same year.  MW Bill has eight children; daughters Cathy Greene and Heather Dancosse of Connecticut; Susan Boehm of New Jersey (a Past Worthy Advisor of Willimantic Assembly No. 26, Order of the Rainbow for Girls); Stepdaughter Cheryl Christensen of Colorado; and sons John Boehm, a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army Airborne; Stephen Boehm of North Carolina; and the late Donna Greene, and David Boehm.  Bill and Sandie have fourteen grandchildren.

Bill’s Masonic career began on November 12, 1983 when he was raised as a Master Mason in Uriel Lodge No. 24 of Merrow Connecticut.  He served Uriel Lodge as Master in 1987 and 1992.  He is a dual member of Ionic Lodge No. 110 of North Windham Connecticut where he served as Master in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2000,  and received the Master’s Achievement Award for each of these eight years.  He is also a member of Eastern Star Lodge No. 44 of North Windham.  He is a Past Right Worshipful Master of the 9th District Actual Past Masters Association, and Past President of the 9th District Blue Lodge Council, serving as Secretary/Treasurer for many years.  In 1991 Bill was named as Mason of the Year for the Ninth Masonic District by the Blue Lodge Council.

Bill Greene served the Grand Lodge of Connecticut as Right Worshipful District Deputy of Masonic District 9B in 1993 and 1994.  He was appointed to serve on the Prince Hall Recognition Committee in 1989 by Most Worshipful Gail N. Smith.  He served on the Masonic Education Committee for many years; and as Chairman of the Publicity and Public Relations Committee for several years.  In 1999, Bill was appointed Grand Junior Steward by Most Worshipful Roger W. Read.  He is the Grand Representative to Delaware from Connecticut.

He is a member of Trinity Chapter No. 9, Royal Arch Masons in North Windham. He served as High Priest of now dissolved Orient Chapter No. 42 in Stafford Springs in 1989-90, 1991-92, and 2000-2001.  Bill served as Most Excellent Grand High Priest in Connecticut in 2001, and a member of the Connecticut Convention of Anointed High Priests, serving as Most Excellent President in 1996-97, and is Grand Representative to Massachusetts.  MW Bill has served on many of the committees of the Grand Chapter and was active in drawing up the resolution to recognize the Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons of Connecticut, Prince Hall Affiliation, accepted by both Grand Chapters in 1994.

Brother Bill is a member of Olive Branch Council No.10, Royal and Select Masters, in North Windham, serving as Thrice Illustrious Master in 1996-97, and 1997-98.  He is a member of the Connecticut Council of Anointed Kings (Order of the Silver Trowel), and Grand Representative to Kansas.
 
Knighted in St. John’s Commandery No. 11 of North Windham, Bill served as Eminent Commander in 1991.  He is Chairman of the Knights Templar Educational Foundation, Division of the Grand Commandery of Connecticut, and a Life member of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.  In 2000 Bill was awarded the Knights Templar Cross of Honor from the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar.  He is a member and Past Knight Crusader of the East in the Connecticut Knights Crusaders of the Cross.

Brother Bill is a member of the Connecticut York Rite College No. 17, and Connecticut Priory No. 28, Knights of the York Cross of Honor.

He is a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons in the Valley of Hartford and a Charter Member of the Nathan Hale Consistory; a Noble of Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Newington, and belongs to two Shrine Clubs, Sphinx Moslem of Northeastern Connecticut and Sphinx Omar of Manchester; the McCoy’s Hillbilly Clan No. 117; and the Highlander Clan No. 78.  He is a prophet in Hejaz Grotto of North Haven.

Bill is member of Laurel Forest No. 130, Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North Windham, serving as Scribe for seventeen years, and as Grand Tall Cedar in 2004 and 2005.  Brother Bill is a member of Mohawk Council No. 28, Knight Masons U.S.A.; and Nutmeg Order No. 17, Sword of Bunker Hill.

Bill is a member of Rainbow Court No. 20, Order of Amaranth in North Windham, serving as Royal Patron, in 1989, 1990, 1993, 2003 and 2005.  He served as Grand Royal Patron of the Grand Court, Order of Amaranth of Connecticut in 1994-95.  He is a member of Climax Chapter No. 98, Order of Eastern Star in Merrow, having served as Worthy Patron in 1991-92; and a member of Vashti Shrine No. 2, Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem in East Hartford, serving as Watchman of Shepherds in 1992-93, and 1996-97.

Bill enjoys working with young people, especially the Masonic Youth groups in Connecticut.  He is Chairman of the Advisory Board of Willimantic Assembly No. 26, Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and a member of the Advisory Board of Norwich Assembly.  The Order of Rainbow is something very dear to the heart of Brother Bill.  He is so proud of all the girls and their accomplishments.  In 1990, through Willimantic Assembly, he was presented with the “Grand Cross of Color” by the Supreme Assembly for Distinguished Services to the Order.  He is also a past member of the State Executive Officer’s Staff of the Order of DeMolay in Connecticut and is holder of the DeMolay Appreciation Medal.  In 1998 he was awarded the “Service to Youth Award” from the Grand Lodge of Connecticut.  No one could be prouder of this honor.  Brother Bill served for several years as a Cub Scout Master in Manchester, and as an Adult Advisor for the Girl Scouts.

Brother Bill’s hobbies include photography, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, cooking, and traveling.  His wife Sandie and he have visited all but one of the fifty states, six of the provinces of Canada, and have been to Mexico.  They are members of National Camping Travelers (NCT), District 1, Chapter 6.  In addition, they enjoy the Ballet, Ice Skating, and the theater, as well as Country Western music and Square Dancing.  Bill and Sandie also support endangered wildlife species programs.