Harry Edward Wade

Harry Edward Wade of Lawrence, KS died June 23, 2026.

Harry was born January 6, 1937, in Granite City, IL.  He graduated from Granite City High School, June 1954 and earned a B.S. in 1959, MA in 1963 and a Ph.D. in 1967 from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO.  

He married Anne Mesnier of Ferguson, MO in 1960. She died in 1978 in St. Louis, MO.

Before moving to Texas in 1966, Harry taught in the public schools in Illinois and college in Albuquerque, NM. He was active in several civic activities including Boy Scouts, Knight of Columbus and The American Red Cross. He was involved in church activities for a number of years.

He married Dora Fields Holt in March 1979.

Dr. Wade was employed at Texas A&M University-Commerce as a Professor of History from 1966-2004. Upon his retirement he was awarded Professor Emeritus status. He was Director of The New Center for Learning from 1982-1987. He was also Department Head of History from 1994-1999. Dr. Wade was elected President of the Faculty Senate twice. He received numerous Professional Awards and Grants including The Otis Lock Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Teaching Excellence Award of the Texas Association of College Teachers, and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers 1994. He was also elected in 1988 to attend the Japanese Studies Institute held at San Diego State University and in 1991 the Asian Studies Development Program at the East-West Center in Hawaii. In the summer of 1994, he was selected to participate in an East-West Center Study Tour of Japan. He was a founding member of the World History Association of Texas and served as its Secretary-Treasurer from 1989-1999.

Before moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 2019, Harry was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Commerce. He was also an active member of Northeast Texas Chapter of The International Wine and Food Society, Greenville, (Texas) Entertainment Series and The Dallas Symphony Series in Greenville.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dora, in 2019. He is survived by his son, John Wade of Lawrence, KS, and three stepchildren, Ronnie Holt of Winston-Salem, NC; Mary Holt of Stevenson Ranch, CA; Cathy Hart of Corpus Christi, TX; four granddaughters, and four great grandchildren. One sister, Joan Griffin of Wood River, IL and four nieces and nephews and six grandnieces and grandnephews in Illinois and St. Louis, MO also survive him. His parents, Charles and Frances Wade preceded him in death.

Memorial services are to be held at St. Margaret’s Church, 6th Street, Lawrence, KS, July 24, 2026, at 11:00 am. Reception immediately following at Pioneer Ridge (Independent Living) Retirement Community, 1000 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence KS.

Memorials may be made in his name to the History Department at Texas A&M University-Commerce, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Commerce, TX or St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Lawrence, KS.