Louis R. Smith III
Potentate

Noble Louis R. Smith, III was born on March 26, 1949, in Wilmington, NC to Louis R. Smith, Jr. and Dylah D. Smith. He attended Wilmington College then served two years active duty in the US Navy; returning to the University of North Carolina Wilmington where he graduated in 1973 with a BS degree in accounting. He worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers as an accountant and served as the Finance and Accounting Officer in Wilmington District. He transferred to the Army Corps of Engineers Europe Division in Frankfurt, Germany as Finance & Accounting Officer for 2 years and Budget Officer for 1 year from 1980-83. He returned to Wilmington and became the Chief of Resource Management as Chief Financial Officer in 1990. Louis retired in January 2010 with over 39 years of Service for the Department of Defense. He participated on numerous National teams as leader, member, representing the Corps. He served as course instructor on Corps Financial matters for New Military Commanders and Corps future leaders. He received numerous awards and commendations for his distinguished professional career to include The Army Comptroller of the year in 2002 from the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Ms. Sandra Pack, The Bronze Order of the De Fluery Medal and the Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award from Lt. General Robert Van Antwerp, Chief of Engineers for the Army Corps, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor Beverly Purdue.

Louis married Patricia Corcoran December 3, 1999, and they have four children, Brad (wife, Julie), Erin (husband, Nathan), Sara (husband, Sean), and Marlo (husband, Ody) and six grandchildren Alex, Kameron, Jaisyn, Katie, Camille, and Wade. Patricia retired from UNCW after working in Alumni Relations and the Watson College of Education and is active in local and community organizations that include the Ladies of the Wilmington Shrine and Ladies of the Pender Shrine Club’s and P.E.O. Louis and Pat love spending time with their family. Louis also enjoys playing golf and fishing. They both enjoy beach music and shag dance. Louis served as President of the Cape Fear Shag Club in 2008 (20th anniversary) and 2013 (25th anniversary) and other leadership positions. He was inducted into the Cape Fear Shag Club Hall of Fame in October 2013. Louis and Pat are members of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church.

Louis was introduced to the Masonic fraternity and Shriners through his parents and their friends. His father was a Mason for over 50 years and Shriner over 40 years. He was raised by his father, sitting Master, at Wilmington Lodge #319, as a Master Mason on August 15, 2006. Louis served as Master of Wilmington Lodge #319 in 2011. He became a Sudan Shriner in September 2006 in New Bern and joined the Arab Shrine Club October 2006, now known as Wilmington Shrine Club. He became a 32° Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Wilmington and a York Rite Mason with the Wilmington York Rite Bodies October 28, 2006, at the Masonic Unity Challenge. Louis and Patricia joined Goldenrod Chapter # 142 Order of the Eastern Star in September 2006 serving as Chaplain and Star Point, respectively. Louis was initiated as a charter member of the Knights of St. Andrew January 17, 2007. He joined the Sudan Drum & Bugle Corps in 2006, served as the Secretary 2011 and 2012 and Captain of the Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013. He was an active member on the Arab Shrine Club Board of Directors from 2007- 2013 and 2nd Vice President in 2013. He joined the Pender Shrine Club, June 2019. Louis actively participates in Divan and club/ unit fund raisers and events.

It has been an honor to serve with so many outstanding men and their ladies. The confidence that Illustrious Sir Rick Jackson placed in me appointing me to the Sudan Divan is humbling. I look forward to working with all Divan, Nobility, and their ladies in providing leadership and supporting Sudan, Imperial, and Shriners Children’s.