Delta County Texas — Welcome

     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.