Gen. Jim Wade competed for Oklahoma City University as a baseball, basketball and football student-athlete before becoming a trustee to the university, OCU Athletics Hall of Famer and one of the most prominent benefactors of the athletic department.
Wade attained the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force. The Stars hold the annual Jim Wade Awards to celebrate OCU’s athletic accomplishments and recognize those Stars who best represent OCU and reflect Wade’s spirit as the student-athletes of the year.
Wade’s contributions helped complete additions and renovations to OCU’s baseball facility, Jim Wade Stadium, as well as at Abe Lemons Arena inside the Freede Center and Brian Harvey Field, the Stars’ soccer facility. He established the Jim Wade Endowment and an endowed scholarship fund to provide financial support for the Stars.
Wade said in the announcement for the creation of the Wade Endowment, "Oklahoma City University athletics means so much to me. It's been a great part of my life.”
Wade became decorated for service in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He flew 55 missions in Korea. His list of citations includes the Order of the Sword, Legion of Merit Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Palm and Combat Readiness Award. He last piloted a Boeing 727 at age 78.
He earned his bachelor of arts from the university in 1949. The Los Angeles Rams selected Wade in the 27th round of the 1948 NFL Draft. Wade also played professionally for the New York Bulldogs.
Wade, originally from Talihina, Okla., had been active in the banking and insurance industries. He had been known as an active member of his church and established the Jim Wade Family Scholarship Trust to help first-year college students from his church.
