Robert Marvin Shelton (June 12, 1929 – March 17, 2003) was an American former car-tire salesman and printer who became nationally famous as the Imperial Wizard of United Klans of America (UKA), a Ku Klux Klan group.
Shelton was a factory worker and a car-tire salesman.[1] He also owned a printing business, with an office on Union Boulevard.[1] In the late 1960s, Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He finished in fifth place.
Following the death of Imperial Wizard Eldon Edwards, the original KKK organization began to fracture during the leadership of Imperial Wizard Roy Davis during the 1960s. Shelton started a new KKK organization, the United Klans of America in an effort to unite the various KKK factions, and served as the UKA leader starting in 1961.[1] which peaked with an estimated 30,000 members.[2] By 1965, Shelton's organization had outgrown the other KKK factions to become the largest in the United States, according to the FBI.[3] In 1966, Shelton was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $1,000 for contempt of the United States Congress, "for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un-American Activities." In 1969, after losing his appeals, he reported to prison to serve his sentence.[2][4]
In 1984, James Knowles, a UKA member of the UKA's Klavern 900 in Mobile, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald.[5] At trial, Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald "in order to show Klan strength in Alabama."[5] In 1987, the Southern Poverty Law Center brought a civil case, on behalf of the victim's family, against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald, a 19-year-old black man.[6] Unable to come up with the $7 million awarded by a jury, the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald's mother, who then sold it.[7] During the civil trial Knowles said he was "carrying out the orders" of Bennie Jack Hays, Henry Hays' father and a long-time Shelton lieutenant.[5]
In 1994, Shelton said, "The Klan is my belief, my religion. But it won't work anymore. The Klan is gone. Forever."[2]
Deathedit
Shelton died of a heart attack on March 17, 2003, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[2]
robert, shelton, klux, klan, other, people, named, robert, shelton, robert, shelton, disambiguation, robert, marvin, shelton, june, 1929, march, 2003, american, former, tire, salesman, printer, became, nationally, famous, imperial, wizard, united, klans, ameri. For other people named Robert Shelton see Robert Shelton disambiguation Robert Marvin Shelton June 12 1929 March 17 2003 was an American former car tire salesman and printer who became nationally famous as the Imperial Wizard of United Klans of America UKA a Ku Klux Klan group Robert M Shelton1st Grand Wizard of the United Klans of America Inc In office 1961 1987Preceded byPosition establishedSucceeded byPosition abolishedPersonal detailsBornRobert Marvin SheltonJune 12 1929Tuscaloosa Alabama U S DiedMarch 17 2003 2003 03 18 aged 73 Tuscaloosa Alabama U S Occupationfactory worker car tire salesman printerKnown forImperial Wizard of United Klans of America Contents 1 Career and KKK activities 2 Death 3 References 4 External linksCareer and KKK activities editShelton was a factory worker and a car tire salesman 1 He also owned a printing business with an office on Union Boulevard 1 In the late 1960s Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa Alabama He finished in fifth place Following the death of Imperial Wizard Eldon Edwards the original KKK organization began to fracture during the leadership of Imperial Wizard Roy Davis during the 1960s Shelton started a new KKK organization the United Klans of America in an effort to unite the various KKK factions and served as the UKA leader starting in 1961 1 which peaked with an estimated 30 000 members 2 By 1965 Shelton s organization had outgrown the other KKK factions to become the largest in the United States according to the FBI 3 In 1966 Shelton was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 1 000 for contempt of the United States Congress for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un American Activities In 1969 after losing his appeals he reported to prison to serve his sentence 2 4 In 1984 James Knowles a UKA member of the UKA s Klavern 900 in Mobile was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald 5 At trial Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald in order to show Klan strength in Alabama 5 In 1987 the Southern Poverty Law Center brought a civil case on behalf of the victim s family against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald a 19 year old black man 6 Unable to come up with the 7 million awarded by a jury the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald s mother who then sold it 7 During the civil trial Knowles said he was carrying out the orders of Bennie Jack Hays Henry Hays father and a long time Shelton lieutenant 5 In 1994 Shelton said The Klan is my belief my religion But it won t work anymore The Klan is gone Forever 2 Death editShelton died of a heart attack on March 17 2003 in Tuscaloosa Alabama 2 References edit a b c Theroux Paul 2015 Deep South Four Seasons on Back Roads London UK Hamish Hamilton p 74 ISBN 9780241146729 a b c d Robert Shelton 73 Leader of Big Klan Faction The New York Times March 20 2003 Retrieved February 5 2022 No Assistance Given In Case Lake Charles American Press May 18 1965 Shelton Klan Leader Goes to Prison for Contempt The New York Times February 15 1969 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved October 9 2023 a b c Emergence of the UKA Anti Defamation League 2007 Archived from the original on November 10 2007 Retrieved September 18 2007 Donald v United Klans of America Southern Poverty Law Center 1988 Archived from the original on February 6 2006 Retrieved September 18 2007 Morris Dees and Steve Fiffer Hate on Trial The Case Against America s Most Dangerous Neo Nazi Villard Books 1993 page 11External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Shelton Ku Klux Klan United Klans of America History Endnotes Robert Shelton Biography Photos of Robert Shelton from the Moncrief Photograph Collection at the Mississippi Archives Archived April 15 2016 at the Wayback MachinePreceded byRoy Elonzo Davis Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan1961 1987 Succeeded bynone Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Shelton Ku Klux Klan amp oldid 1183235242, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
