Larry R. Wade
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Larry R. Wade | |
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Born | Elk City, Oklahoma | January 18, 1939
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
Occupation |
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Larry Raymond Wade (born January 18, 1939) was an Oklahoman newspaper publisher and community activist who served as the Chairman of the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma. Wade also served as the mayor of Elk City and was perhaps the most prolific fundraiser for education in the town's history.
Early Life and Education
Larry Wade was born on January 18, 1939, in Elk City, Oklahoma, to Frances Loraine (Hart) and Paul R. Wade. He graduated from Elk City High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in 1961, where he'd served as editor of the Oklahoma Daily, the OU student newspaper. After graduation, Larry joined the U.S. Army Reserve where he served at Fort Ord in the early 1960's. He was married to Mary Jane (English) Wade in Cordell, Oklahoma on August 1, 1970.
Career
Wade joined the staff of the Elk City Daily News as a cub reporter at age 13. He became co-publisher with his father, Paul Wade, in 1966 and publisher when his father died in 1972. Wade continued publishing and writing for the newspaper until his death in 2011.
Active in the community, Wade served as city commissioner and mayor, president of the chamber of commerce, United Fund and Kiwanis Club. He’s was the founder of the Elk City Foundation and is a member of the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Governor Brad Henry appointed Wade to a 7-year term on the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, and Wade was the chairman of the board at the time of his passing.
Accolades
Wade is a member of the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and a section of State Highway 6 bears his name to honor his philanthropy and activism. [1]He received the Oklahoma Press Association's highest honor, the Milt Phillips Award in 1995. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Press Association Hall of Fame in May, 2011.
Personal Life
Wade was a lifelong supporter and alumnus of the University of Oklahoma. As a student, he was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma and editor of the Oklahoma Daily. He was a staunch Democrat, and President Jimmy Carter stayed at his house during a visit to Elk City in 1979, in what Carter described as "the best trip he ever had". [2]Secret Service agents led people to believe that Carter was staying in the Holiday Inn, but he stayed at the Wade residence and scrubbed the floor after tracking mud into the entryway. Carter famously said that jogging on the runway at Elk City was the furthest he got away from another person during his presidency.
References
- ↑ "Section 1698.104 - Larry Wade Memorial Highway, Okla. Stat. tit. 69 § 1698.104 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ↑ Arata, Katie (2023-03-06). "Taking a look back at Jimmy Carter's 1979 visit to Elk City". KOKH. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
External links
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