W. J. (William Joseph) Simmons

Born in Harpersville, Alabama, in 1880, William Joseph Simmons worked as a schoolteacher, Methodist minister, and lecturer before turning to publishing and fraternal organizing. He was involved in several mutual aid and secret-order groups, and he promoted himself as a builder of patriotic and religious brotherhoods.

Simmons is chiefly remembered for reorganizing the Ku Klux Klan on Stone Mountain, Georgia, in 1915. He styled himself the movement's "Imperial Wizard" and helped shape its early imagery, rituals, and recruiting message during its rebirth in the early 20th century.

Although later leaders eclipsed his influence, his role in reviving the Klan made him a significant and deeply controversial figure in American history. He died in 1945.