Douglas E. Maxwell of Chesterfield, Mo., was elected to serve as Chairman of the Shriners Hospitals for Children® Board of Trustees during the 2011 Imperial Session, held in Denver July 3-. In this role, he also serves as President and CEO of Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Maxwell was elected an Imperial officer of Shriners International in 1998, and he served as Imperial Potentate in 2008-09. In this position, he also served as President of the Board of Directors for Shriners International and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Maxwell studied architectural engineering and finance at the University of Kansas, 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. Maxwell Manufacturing Co. has become the third largest builder of these conveyors in America.
During his 12 years on the Boards of Directors, 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 Shriners Hospitals for Children — St. Louis Board of Governors, having served 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 just over 40 years.