Most Worshipful William Edward Hershey, Jr.

William Edward "Bill" Hershey, Jr., was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended public school, graduating from Peabody High School. He is a graduate of Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina and a holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1962 and in 1966, attended Officer Candidates School, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in January 1967. Immediately upon graduation, he was deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a platoon leader with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Subsequent to his Vietnam tour of duty, he served in a number of both Command and Staff positions. After 23 ½ years of military service, he retired in May 1986, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is the recipient of numerous military decorations including the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. Upon retirement from the military, he began a second career in the field of Information Technology and Information Assurance, initially employed by the Quest Research Corporation, where he served as a Program Manager. He later joined CACI in 1998, as a Program Manager, where he worked until January 2008, when he retired.

Brother Hershey was raised a Master Mason in Hay Market Lodge No. 313 on January 30, 1976, where he is a Life Member in Perpetuity, honorary member, and Secretary Emeritus and served as its Worshipful Master in 1986, and as Secretary from 2003 to 2010. He is also a member of Edward H. Cann Daylight Lodge No. 1752, where he has served as Secretary since 2012. He was District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 58 in 1991 and was honored with the Outstanding District Deputy Award. Brother Hershey was Masonic Home Ambassador from 1987 to 1989 and again in 1994. He was Administrative Assistant in 1999 and is currently the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of India, near Virginia. He was a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Jurisprudence from 1992 to 2014. He was the Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Membership from 2008 to 2014, and served both as a member and as Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Strategic Planning and Implementation. Brother Hershey received the John Blair, Jr. Medal from the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 2008.
He was elected Grand Junior Deacon in 2014 and was elected to the Office of Grand Master in November 2018.

Most Worshipful Brother Hershey is a member of the Valley of Alexandria, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and was invested Knight Commander Court of Honour in 2009 and is also a member of the Blue Ridge Scottish Rite Club. He is a Life Member of Walter Reed Chapter No. 303 and James Monroe Chapter No. 549, National Sojourners and Light Horse Harry Lee Camp, Heroes of '76. He holds membership in Acca Shrine Center, where he is a member of the Directors Staff. Prior to joining Acca Shrine Center, he was active in Kena Shrine Center where he served two terms as Trustee, President and Secretary of the Oriental Band, and Chief of the Kena Aide Corps.

Brother Hershey is married to the former Margaret Michele Arlof. They are the proud parents of three daughters, Margaret Louise Petrizza, Michele Rene Hershey, and Theresa Lynne Lewis. They have two grandsons, three granddaughters and one great-granddaughter. They make their home in North Chesterfield, Virginia.