Grand Wizard

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Grand Wizard was the title given to the leader of the earliest form of the Ku Klux Klan, which formed during Southern Reconstruction. Nathan Bedford Forrest was believed to have held the title before the Klan was dissolved. The Grand Wizard had very little real power, since most Klan "dens" (local groups) were effectively autonomous due to the Klan's semi-clandestine nature.

At the start of the 20th Century, the KKK sprung up again as the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Still commonly referred to as the KKK, this incarnation has used a different system of titles for their officers. The highest-ranking leaders of the modern Klan factions have more commonly used the title of Imperial Wizard. The title of Grand Wizard now and has always applied to the state officer first in command. This title is only used with groups such as Georgia Knight Riders who have no national connection. If the particular group has members nationwide, then its national president is referred to as an Imperial Wizard, and its state officer first in command is referred to as Grand Dragon.

The white nationalist politician David Duke attained the rank of Grand Wizard prior to leaving a branch of the organization. ^[1]

[edit] List of Grand Wizards

• Nathan Bedford Forrest, 1867-1869
• William J. Simmons, 1915-1945
• Hiram Wesley Evans, 1920-45
• David Duke, 1974-1978
• Don Black, 1980-84^[2][3]
• Virgil Lee Griffin, 1984- February 2009

[edit] References