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 William H. Duls 1931-1932 Brethren, tonight we honor our 11th Worshipful Master of Highland Park Lodge. Brother William H. Duls. Past Master I think in all my research of Past Masters to honor, …Bro. Duls has by far had the most articles written about him. …And that is not to take away any credit from any of our other Past Masters. I have found so many articles about Bro. Duls, it has been difficult to pick and choose what to present to you tonight. However, I did not find certain pertinent information about where he was born, when he was married and to whom other than knowing that his wife grew up on the Marshall Farm in Mesquite, Texas. The Duls did however reside at 4329 Arcady Dr. in Highland Park. Also they did raise two daughters. I will present his bio of articles in a chronological order that they took place. Bro. Duls was a native of North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina in Chap Hill, North Carolina. He was a Phi Beta Kappa and serviced as Vice President of his class. After graduating, he remained at No. Carolina University and serviced as a mathematics instructor and did research for one year. Bro. Duls went-on to Harvard and got his law degree in 1911. His first position with a company was with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as their Assistant General Attorney. I don’t know when he arrived in Dallas, but I know that he did go through the line of chairs at HP lodge and served as our Worshipful Master in 1931-32. He went on to become the Potentate of the Dallas Shrine in 1932. Also that same year he was appointed as Regional Aid for the National Shrine Convention of North America, held in San Francisco. …and I saw that Hella Temple did have a golf tournament that year at —Cedar Crest Golf Course…the only reason I mention this is, …ironically, I’m scheduled to play golf at that same course tomorrow. 1937 Bro. Duls became a District Deputy Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of Texas. 1938, Bro. Duls became the President of the Dallas Harvard and Yale Club. Several years later he was nominated to the Board of Overseers at Harvard, I’m not sure if he was actually elected to this board or not? In 1939, he was one of 12 Texans to receive the Highest Honor of the Scottish Rite, he was honored with the 33degree at the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Masons in Washington D.C. In 1940, he became the Orator of the Grand Lodge of Texas. And that year, he was elected as Venerable Master of the Dallas Lodge of Perfection. !943, Duls became the Senior Warden of the Rose Criox Lodge. And he was appointed the Master of Ceremonies at the Annual Memorial Services of the Texas Scotish Rite’s Hospital for Cripple Children.. 1945, Duls was elected Minister of State of the Kadosh by the Dallas Consistory of Scottish Rite. 1949, Bro. Duls became a widower when Mrs. Duls was stricken with a sudden heart attack; She had no previous history with the decease. 1950 He was elected Master of Kadosh of the Dallas Consistory. That same year a very special Masonic Bronze plaque mounded on a monument 11ft. high, was unveiled at Restland Park. It marked a new Acacia section for burial of Masons. All Worshipful Masters of Dallas Lodges were invited. With over 250 attendees present, Bro. Duls presented the history of early Texas Masonry. Also he read a lengthy speech written by the last President of the Republic of Texas, Anson Jones, the one which is inscribed on the bronze plaque today. …I’m side-stepping again… it was only a few months back, I saw that plaque monument just across the trail from where a close friend was being buried. I did go over and read the inscription and thought it was very unique, not knowing that a Past Master from Highland Park Lodge had helped to make its dedication. In 1951 —Duls, was elected President of the Cripple Children’s Hospital. That same year he narrated a 30 minute broadcast over WFAA Radio about the origin of the hospital and thanked the many masons and volunteers that have participated in its success. And there were other occasions that he did broadcasts over the radio waves about masonry. 1955, Bro. Duls became Chancellor on the Council of Knights Kadosh. Interesting 1955, Past Potentate Duls, installed Louis A. Priester as the new Potentate of the Hella Temple. —a piece of trivial— I saw that Priester was a founding member of Degrazier Lodge, and was a member at one time of HP …As we all know, the name of our lodge was changed to “Priester” for about 25 years. That was because he offered any lodge who would take on his name, a donation of $100,000 dollars. …By-the-way, Priester was an Aggie! 1956, Bro.Duls presided over the Banquet when 68 North Texans were conferred as 33° Masons at the coronation. Over 100 distinguished notables from Texas and several other states were present. Also in 1956, he became the second Lieutenant Commander of the Dallas Council of Kadosh. The last information I found was 1966 when Duls was the installing Marshal for the Officers of the Valley of Dallas Scottish Rite. Brother Duls passed away on October 9, 1978 and I bet he is sitting on some panel for the Great Archect in the Sky! Brother William H. Duls, tonight we honor you for your Masonic dedication, you have been a Stellar Roll-Model for Masonry! … God bless you and may you rest in eternal peace!
J. Darrell Kirkley
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