Maxwell 5 star

YOUR NEW IMPERIAL POTENTATE

During the 2008 Imperial Council Session, held in St. Louis June 29-July 3, Douglas E. Maxwell of Chesterfield, Mo., was elected the Imperial Potentate of the Shrine International.

In college at the University of Kansas, Maxwell studied architectural engineering and finance, receiving his degree in 1969. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Illinois University in 1975.

In the early '70s, Maxwell joined the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant. He flew the world routes of the Military Airlift Command, including missions to Europe, South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Vietnam. For his distinguished service during the Vietnam War, he received both Vietnamese Combat Service Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal. At the end of the war in 1975, he departed the military as a captain.

Maxwell and his father began a manufacturing company in 1975, building checkout counter conveyors and speed reducers. Today, Maxwell Manufacturing Co. has grown into the third largest builder of these conveyors in America.

During his 10 years on the Board of Directors, Imperial Sir Maxwell has served as chairman of the International Development Committee, the Buildings and Equipment Committee and the Fleming-Florence Committee. He has also served on the Investment Committee and the Planning Committee.

Maxwell is a Past Potentate of Moolah Shriners in St. Louis. He is a 33rd degree member of the Scottish Rite, a Knight Templar in the York Rite, and a member of Beacon Masonic Lodge #3 and the International Order of DeMolay Legion of Honor. He is also an emeritus member of the St. Louis Shriners Hospital Board of Governors, serving on the Applications Committee and Buildings and Equipment Committee.

Maxwell is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and also the Missouri Pilots Association. He holds a commercial pilot's license and instructor's pilot's license.

He and his wife, Patricia, are high school sweethearts and have been married for 39 years.