John William Preddy was born September 7, 1909 in Nashville, Tennessee and is the son of Fred A. Preddy and Jessie Waters Preddy. He was educated in the public schools of Birmingham, Alabama. He joined the United States Navy in 1925 and remained in the service until December, 1933. From December 1933 to December of 1934 he worked at T. C. I. On December 13, 1934 he went to work for the Birmingham Police Department where he has remained ever since.

He is a member of the Central Park Methodist Church.

He married Miss Helen Brunton of Charlottesville, Virginia on August 25, 1936, and to them has been born a daughter, Miss Valeria Ann Preddy, a student at Central Park Elementary
School at Birmingham, Alabama.

John William Preddy was initiated in Fairview Lodge No. 644 F. & A. M., Birmingham, Alabama on April 16, 1940, passed on April 30, 1940 and raised on May 14, 1940. He was elected
and served the Lodge as Worshipful Master from June 24, 1943 to June 24, 1944. On retiring as Master, he was elected and served the Lodge as Secretary from 1944 to 1951.

He received the Scottish Rite degrees, Valley of Birmingham, Orient of Alabama in 1944. He is past Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection, Past Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix and is Commander of Council of Kadosh and Marshal in Alabama Consistory. He received the Knights Commander Court of Honor on October 16, 1951. He was exalted to the most sublime degree of Royal Arch Masonry in Woodlawn Chapter No. 146 on November 7, 1953;
was received and Greeted as a member of Woodlawn Council No. 71 Royal and Select Masters on November 21, 1953 and was Knighted in Woodlawn Commandery K. T. on May 15, 1954.
He is a member of Mary Echols Chapter No. 125 O. E. S. and is a member of Zamora Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Birmingham, Alabama.

He was elected and served the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Alabama as Grand Tiler in November 1948 and served in that office until November 9, 1951 when he was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of Alabama. He was regularly advanced and on November 17, 1954 was elected and installed Most Worshipful Grand Master.

He is a man of great sterling worth, distinguished for his solid common sense, understanding and good judgment and he is loved by all who know him for his kind and tender heart,
and loyalty to his friends and principles.
[Grand Masters of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons The State of Alabama 1821-2008 by Donna R. Causey]