[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1954-E1955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN MEMORY OF JIM WADE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to pay tribute today to one 
of my best friends from childhood, Jim Wade of Dallas, TX, who passed 
away in May at the age of 85. Jim and I grew up together in Rockwall, 
TX and shared many wonderful times over the years. He was a great 
patriot who was devoted to his family, his State, and his country.
  Jim attended Rockwall High School, studied at the University of Texas 
and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1943. He 
served his country in General George Patton's 3rd Army in England, 
landing on Utah Beach in July 1944. His service in France, Luxembourg, 
Germany, and Czechoslovakia earned him five battle stars as well as a 
Bronze Star Medal for individual bravery for relief efforts of Bastogne 
in the Battle of the Bulge. Jim's later service included tours in China 
and Taiwan before he resigned with the rank of major.
  Jim lived in Denver, San Antonio, and Beeville and returned to Dallas 
in 1959 to begin a long and distinguished career with New York Life 
Insurance Company. Jim and I shared an interest in public service and 
served together in the Texas State Senate. He also served in the Texas 
House of Representatives.
  Jim was the last of 11 children born to Henry Wade and Lula Wade, all 
of whom preceded him in death. Jim followed in the steps of his father, 
the late Henry Wade, who was a longtime County Judge of Rockwall 
County, and in the steps of his brother, the late Henry Wade, Jr., 
famous Dallas District Attorney for many years, and along with the late 
Faires Wade, the late Ney Wade, the late Reese Wade, the late Mart 
Wade, and the late Joe Wade, all former criminal District Attorneys of 
Rockwall County, with Joe Wade also a longtime District Judge of Bee 
County. As they graduated from law school, the father would get them 
elected County Attorney and make the incumbent son move out of office 
to make room for the latest law school graduate. They were all 
successful lawyers, and Jim gave some good years to Dallas County as 
their State Senator. Four other family members, sisters Carrie, Nona 
and Lillian, and brother Dr. Colquitt Wade also were successful in life 
and active in politics.
  Jim was devoted to his family and served his country and State with 
pride and dignity. His many leadership positions brought him respect, 
but his friendships brought him admiration. He enjoyed the 
relationships he cultivated with friends at the Dallas Country Club, 
where

[[Page E1955]]

he was a member, as well as at the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 
where he worshipped. He was an extraordinary businessman, civil 
servant, family man and friend.
  Jim was married for 50 years to Madeline Hopkins, who preceded him in 
death in 1994, and is survived by his son Kirk and wife Laura of 
Chestertown, MD; son Bart and wife Mary Sue of Dallas and their sons 
Reese and Roby; and daughter Chris Bartlett and husband Tim of Colorado 
Springs. He was married to Sara Lees Glover from 1995 until her death 
in 2001, and for the last three years of his life was married to 
Stephanie May. He also is survived by stepdaughter Valerie and her 
husband Roger Smith, stepson Bill Glover and 5 step-grandchildren.
  Jim thrived on competition--from being a star runner on our high 
school track team, to running for public office, to playing to win on 
the tennis court. We ran track together at Rockwall High. Jim was a 
great end for the Rockwall Yellow Jackets football team. He also ran 
the high hurdles and had a better time on the dirt track at Rockwall 
High, around a curve, than the state champion, the late Mal Kutner of 
Woodrow Wilson High in Dallas. We all went to SMU's stadium with Jim to 
watch him challenge Kutner at the district track meet. We were positive 
that he would surprise Kutner and set a new state high hurdles record. 
Jim never forgot--nor did I--his jumping the starter's gun three times 
and being disqualified. I always thought of that last great line in the 
poet John Greenleaf Whittier's poem, Maud Muller, ``For of all sad 
words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: `It might have been!' '' 
Jim would have surely beaten Kutner, who went on to football fame as an 
All-American end for The University of Texas.
  In his last months Jim battled pneumonia and cancer and defied the 
predictions of his doctors to make it back home. As his son Bart said 
in his eulogy, his Dad never once believed that he would not make a 
recovery, not be able to walk again, or not make the next baseball game 
of one of his grandsons. He never lost his determination, never lost 
hope and never lost his good disposition despite the circumstances. 
That is the Jim Wade we loved and will always remember.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in memory and in honor of 
this great American and my good friend--Jim Wade. He will be truly 
missed.

                          ____________________