Founded as the California State Conference, a temporary organization, June 14, 1953, at Oakland California, it was authorized as a permanent experimental organization, August 3, 1953 at Rochester, New York. It became permanent, throught the authorized Western State District, July 31, 1955 at Chicago, Illinois.

To date the Conference has had 11 District Deputies, William J. Knox, Sr., Herman Faulk, George Theophile, Oliver S. Lanaux, Sr., Hary L. Wiley, Jr., Charles Stevens, Elmon Goodson, Mervin Hughes , Anderson Shaw, Gregory Warner and presently serving the District, Bruce Sampson.

There have been 17 Presidents, William J. Knox, Sr., Henry D. Faulk, Oliver S. Lanaux, John D. Haynes, Harvey M. Osporn, Clifford Young, John Waller, Arthur Trevigne, Sr., Ray Mayes, Darrell Washington, Rufus Fisher, Fred L. McLaurin, Joseph Connor, Gregory Warner, LeRoy Titus, Robert Williams, and presently serving the District Conference, Andrew Knox.

The officers of the Western States District Conference are elected for a term of two (2) years.  Elections shall take place every two years in the odd numbered years at the Conference from various sections of the District for all officers except the District Deputy and Jr. Knight Commander, whose election takes place in the even numbered years.