Chapter Eternal
Thomas W. “Tom” Wade, Jr.
(Tennessee, Zeta ’53)
Pi Kappa Alpha recently lost a true titan with the passing of Brother Tom Wade, Jr., of Union City, Tennessee. Truly the epitome of a Pike’s Pike, Brother Wade entered Chapter Eternal on May 27, 2008, having left an unsurpassed legacy of service, support and loyalty to Pi Kappa Alpha.
Tom’s passions were many, especially his family. Tom’s community, the University of Tennessee and of course, his much beloved Pi Kappa Alpha also held very special places in his heart – and all benefited greatly having known this wonderful man as a resident, student and alumnus, and of course, Brother in the Bonds of phi phi kappa alpha, respectively.
Born on November 23, 1933, Tom grew up in Kenton, Tennessee, and completed his high school education at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Class of 1952. He then entered the University of Tennessee, earning a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1957.
Brother Wade was the owner of Tom Wade Companies, headquartered in Kenton, which consists of Wade Gin Company, Wade Land Company, Kenton Grain Company, Tom Wade Strawberries and numerous other agribusiness operations in northwest Tennessee. He was also a retired chairman of the board and director of First State Bank.
Tom’s tremendous heritage with Pi Kappa Alpha began long before his own initiation into Zeta Chapter in 1953. His father, Tom Wade, Sr., was initiated into Zeta Chapter in 1917, and thereafter served as national secretary of Pi Kappa Alpha from 1960 to 1962. Tom Sr. was later posthumously inducted into the Fraternity’s highest order, the Order of West Range.
Tom’s own Pi Kappa Alpha legacy was equally stellar. He served as a trustee of the Pi Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation, and as its president from 1998 to 2000. He was awarded Pi Kappa Alpha’s Loyalty Award in 1994, and following in his father’s footsteps, he was inducted into the ΠΚΑ Foundation’s Order of West Range in 2002. He was a member of the Foundation’s Oak Trust and 1868 Society, and was a charter member of the President’s Council. In 2001, Tom joined his good friend Brother Phillip Lighty (Washington State, Gamma Xi ’38) to co-underwrite the beautiful Lighty-Wade Courtyard and Pavilion at the Pi Kappa Alpha Memorial Headquarters in Memphis. More recently, Brother Wade served as a trustee emeritus of the ΠΚΑ Foundation, and actively attended most board meetings. Tom also served as the “unofficial leader” of his Zeta Chapter’s Supergroup, composed primarily of Zeta initiates from the 1950s and early 1960s. At the conclusion of each Supergroup reunion, Tom always warned all in attendance that “he was officially resigning and someone else would have to coordinate the next get-together…” Fortunately, he never fulfilled this threat, most recently organizing and hosting the Supergroup’s very successful 2005 reunion.
Tom was especially proud that his son, Thomas W. “Will” Wade, III, continued his “Big Orange” and “Garnet & Gold” legacies, having graduated from the University of Tennessee where he was also initiated into Zeta Chapter, in 1991, and served as an undergraduate vice president on the Fraternity’s Supreme Council in 1993 and 1994.
A member of Union City First United Methodist Church and the Upper Room Sunday School Class, Tom is survived by his wife Pat Thurmond Wade, daughters Annie Wade “Lolly” Bearden and Patti Wade Barnes, son Thomas W. “Will” Wade, III, and numerous other family members.
At Brother Wade’s passing, Pi Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation Executive Director Patrick Haynes commented, “Tom’s loyalty to, generosity toward and outspoken advocacy for Pi Kappa Alpha were without peer. He was the consummate ΠΚΑ – period.”