WILLIAM R. SCHEEL (w∴m∴ 1982-1983)

William Regan Scheel was born on October 18, 1950 in Houston, Texas. He was educated in the public school system of the city, graduating from S. P. Waltrip High School in 1968. He continued his education at the University of Texas, where he was named Sophomore of the Year in 1969. He graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History, with honors in Political Science and English. He took additional coursework at the New York Institute of Finance in Advanced Portfolio Management, and at Rice University in Business Management and Oil & Gas Finance. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Scheel Investment Group.

He is married, and has one son.

As a young man, Brother Scheel was a member of the Order of DeMolay, having received the degrees in Reagan Chapter in April 1965. He served as the State Orator of the Texas DeMolay Association from 1969-1970, and was the Master Councilor of Reagan Chapter in Summer 1971. As an adult, he served as Chapter Dad of San Antonio Chapter from 1974 to 1976, as Priory Advisory for Houston Priory, as Chapter Dad (pro tempore) of Reagan Chapter from 1996-1997, and as the Chairman of the Advisory Board for Reagan Chapter from 1996-1999. In 1997 he received the Guild of the Leather Apron as Advisor of the Year. Because of his devoted service to the Order of DeMolay, he was invested with the Degree of Chevalier in 1968, awarded the Cross of Honor in 1978, and invested as a member of the Legion of Honor in 1980.

Brother Scheel received his degrees in Freemasonry from Parsons Lodge No. 222 in Austin, Texas. He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason on September 26, 1973; passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on June 19, 1974; and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on August 2 of the same year. In November 1978, he affiliated as a dual member with Jacques DeMolay Lodge, and in the masonic year of 1982-1983 served as its twenty-third Worshipful Master.

Brother Scheel is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, having received his degrees from the Houston bodies in December 1976. He served as the Assistant General Secretary from 1976 to 1983, and as Treasurer from 1986 to 1990. He is also the founder of the Houston Scottish Rite Learning Center. For his service and devotion to the Rite, he was invested with the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 1983, and was coroneted an Inspector General Honorary of the Thirty-third Degree in 1987.