Wade Thomas Bledsoe, one of seven
children, was born in Klondike, Texas to Carrie McCullough and Charles
Wade Bledsoe on February 14, 1908. He attended Klondike schools until
his Senior year, when Coach Parsons of East Texas College in Commerce came
to enlist him to play football at the Training School at the College.
His father said he could not go because he had to stay and pick
cotton. Mr. Parsons told him that he could live with them and do odd jobs
for Mrs. Parsons. He did that. He was active in student affairs, a
member of Friars Social Club (no fraternities then), and the Student Governing
Board. He also lettered in four sports: basketball, baseball,
track, and football, and was Captain of the team his Senior year.
After receiving his degree, he was
coach and principal at Leesburg, Texas for three years before coming
to Cooper in 1935 as elementary principal. In 1938, he married
Lucile Hendricks who was teaching in the high school.
During the summers Wade played baseball with independent
teams in Commerce, Sulphur Springs, Mt. Vernon, and Paris, and was player-manager
of the Cooper team.
In the spring of 1942 Wade enlisted in the
Navy as a Chief Specialist and was stationed at Norfolk, Va.,
Davisville, R. I., the University of Southern California, and San Diego, when
he received his commission as Lt. (j.g.)-later promoted to Lt. Sr. Grade.
He went to Officer Training Schools at the University of Arizona,
Ft. Schuyler, N. Y. Camp Bradford, Va.,and Naval Air Station in Chicago.
He joined his crew on a new LST 711 at Jeffrersonville, Ind. as a gunnery officer
and sailed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans in preparation for service
in the Pacific Theatre. In New Orleans he was promoted to Executive
Officer of his ship. The LST was a Landing Ship designed to transport troops,
ammunition, supplies, and equipment on invasion of beaches. They sailed from
Australia to the Philippine Islands on invasions.
In 1946 back in Cooper, Wade enrolled at East
Texas University and received his Master's Degree. Meantime he was appointed
to coordinate a Veteran's Vocational Training Program. The Veterans' Administration
contracted with the Texas Education Agency to provide and administer programs
in each County. The program for Delta County provided training in Agriculture
and Farm Shop, auto mechanics, carpentry, and business courses. Machinery and
equipment for these programs were obtained from War Surplus commodities and
building facilities came from Camp Maxey in Paris. Many capable veterans were
given jobs teaching these courses.
In 1951 Wade was elected Superintendent of Cooper
Independent School District, a position he held for twenty-two years until
his retirement in 1974.
In his first year as superintendent he held
a mass meeting of citizens and appointed a Citizens' Advisory Committee to
consider the building needs of C.I.S.D.
As a result in 1952 a $225,000 Bond Issue was
approved 7-1 by the voters. These improvements followed:
Booker T. Washington School, located in a low
hollow and woefully inadequate without indoor plumbing, was vacated. New
acreage was provided and adequate facilities, including a gymnasium were
provided. Several temporary buildings on the high school
campus were salvaged, and a 14 room elementary building was completed in
1953. Also a modern gymnasium was built.
Also during his administration and leadership the
following happened:
* In 1980 all of the County Schools (except Pecan Gap) consolidated
and located in Cooper, adding 225 scholastics.
* The citizens approved a $74,000. Bond by a 5-1 vote.
* Two East Delta
School Buildings were moved and remodeled for a Junior High
Building and Elementary Gymnasium.
* In 1965 the Negroes were given
a Freedom of Choice of Schools to attend.
* In 1966, the Negro and White Schools were integrated smoothly.
* In 1966, the Board purchased acreage and built an athletic stadium.
* A sound proof music room was added to the Elementary Building and rooms were built for Special Education Classes.
* In 1970 a Building Trades program was added to the curriculum.
Pupils enrolled in these classes attended one half day training
in actual construction and one half day in the basic classes.
These classes enlarged and remodeled the football field house
and dressing rooms, constructed a dressing room across the
south end of the gymnasium, a new brick Home Economics Building
and the Agriculture-Building Trades facility. They also constructed
two frame houses and seven quality brick houses, selling each
one on completion to eager bidders to pay for the land and
materials.
Wade Bledsoe was also active in Church and
Civic affairs:
* President of the Northeast Schoolmen's Association
* President of the Delta Country Club and the Lion's Club
* President of the American Legion,Red Henderson Post
* President of Delta County Methodist Men
* Chairman of the Official Board of the Methodist Church
* Teacher of Men's Bible Class
* President of the Delta County Unit of American Cancer Society
* Director of the Chamber of Commerce
* Director of First National Bank
* Director of Region VIII Education Service Center in Mt. Pleasant
* Member of the School State Finance Committee
* City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem
* Founder of the Little League Baseball Program in the County
* A 50 year member of the Lion's Club and of the Masonic Lodge
* Member of TSTA District VIII Executive Committee
* Member of NEA and TSTA
The Bledsoe's two sons distinguished themselves
in their careers:
Wade Thomas Jr. had a scholarship to Utah State
University studying on his PhD. He did research on the Alaskan Brown Bear
at McNeil River in Alaska for 3 summers for Utah State and as a result authored
the book BROWN BEAR SUMMER. He was a noted wildlife photographer with pictures
published in many, many magazines including French and German ones. He died
in 1992.
Joe Bob has had a successful career in education
as a coach, psychologist, principal, and superintendent of schools in Ohio
where he now lives with his wife and three children.
Besides all of this. After retirement, Wade and
Lucile traveled extensively, and he was an avid golfer.
