Arthur Leslie Williams, 33° PP
(Sep 10, 1867-Sep 24, 1946)
Past Master, Rural Lodge #316, Kansas City, MO

1906 - 32° Consistory of Western MO, Kansas City
1911 - Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
1914 - Venerable Master, Adoniram Lodge of Perfection
1917 - Coroneted 33° Inspector General Honorary
1929 - Master of Kadosh of the Consistory

1914 - Potentate, Ararat Shrine

Occupation: Superior Ice and Coal Company, livestock agent
Past President of the Civic Repertory Theater
Interred: Illinois

Arthur L. Williams, 235 Ward Parkway, was born September 10, 1867 in Fredericktown, Missouri. His father, George L. Williams, was born in Pennsylvania and moved to St Louis where he distinguished himself as a professional photographer. He then settled in Fredericktown where he engaged himself in the mining business. Arthur Williams was educated in Edwardsville, Illinois and was in attendance of the Cumberland Presbyterian College in Lincoln, Illinois until the age of nineteen when his father died. Arthur then moved to Kansas City and obtained employment as the chief clerk for the superintendant of the Kansas City Southern Railroad. In 1910 he entered the real estate business with the Whipple-McMillan Company. In 1913, he organized the Quality Ice Company which proved to be a successful venture. In 1920, he sold that company and a year later established the Superior Ice and Coal Company that was also a success in it's own right.

He was best known to many Kansas Citians for his connection with the Civic Repertory Theater with which he became president in 1925 and remained so for many years, playing a variety of character roles in the theater's productions.

Brother Williams was also an active Mason and was Past Master of Rural Lodge #316. He was made a 32° Master of the Royal Secret in the Valley of Kansas City Scottish Rite in 1906. He was invested as a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 1911 and was coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1917. He served as Potentate of Ararat Shrine in 1914.