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Joe E. White

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Joe E. White
President of Carl Albert State College
In office
July 1, 1975 – July 1, 2007
Personal details
Born(1937-07-03)July 3, 1937
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DiedMay 31, 2018(2018-05-31) (aged 80)
Edmond, Oklahoma[1]
SpouseMelba Sue Curfman
ResidenceEdmond, Oklahoma
Alma materOklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Murray State College
ProfessionRetired college president
Oil and gas investor

Joe Ellis White (July 3, 1937 – May 31, 2018) was an American educator and oil and gas investor.[2][3] White served as President of Carl Albert State College from 1975-2007.[2] His tenure at Carl Albert State College marked one of the longest sitting college president terms in the state of Oklahoma.[4]

White was a member of the Carl Albert State College Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and the Murray State Distinguished Athlete Hall of Fame.[3] He also owned and was a managing partner at White Energy, LLC.[3][5]

Early life and education

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Joe E. White was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 3, 1937 to C.W. and Cleo White.[6] White graduated from Alex High School in Alex, Oklahoma in 1955.[7] From 1956-1958, White attended Murray State College where he played fullback on the Murray State College, football team.[8] Following his graduation from Murray State College, White transferred to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1959.[2][9]

In 1965, White completed his master's degree in education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma.[10] He returned to Oklahoma State University in 1974 completing his Doctorate in education.[3]

Career

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In 1959, White began his career as the head football coach and English teacher at Alex High School, his alma mater.[9][11] In 1962, White served as an assistant football coach and teacher at Roswell High School in Roswell, New Mexico.[12] He later served as the coach of Minco High School in Minco, Oklahoma prior to being hired at Elk City High School in 1964.[10][11]

White started at Elk City High School as a teacher, football coach, athletic director followed by assistant principal.[10] He became Elk City High School’s head principal in 1968.[12] He left Elk City to become superintendent of schools in Sentinel, Oklahoma in 1970.[10] White later served as Elk City Public Schools superintendent.[13] While superintendent of the Elk City schools, White was one of 50 superintendents to participate in an international study mission to the then-Soviet Union.[13]

White was appointed president of Carl Albert State College (CASC) in 1975.[14][full citation needed]

Carl Albert State College

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Former United States House Speaker Carl Albert and White

During President White’s tenure at CASC, from 1975-2007, student enrollment increased from 600 students in 1975 to over 3,700 students.[15] During that period, CASC grew from a single campus with two buildings to 3 campuses located in Poteau, Sallisaw and Idabel.[15] CASC also constructed six residence halls and tripled the size of its Sallisaw campus during White's tenure.[15] White also oversaw the creation of the CASC Development Foundation, which was established in 1979.[16][14]

In collaboration with former United States House Speaker Carl Albert, White created the Jimmy Carter Presidential Lecture Series at CASC.[17] Featured speakers at the lecture series have included former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, and Miss America Shawntel Smith.[18][19]

The Carl Albert State College library was named the "Joe E. White Library" in recognition of White's contributions to the college.[20]

Other associations

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White was a former chairman of the Council of Oklahoma's College and University Presidents; and sat on the National Council of Two-Year College Presidents and the executive committee of the Council of North Central Two-Year Colleges.[15]

White was inducted into the Murray State College Distinguished Athlete Hall of Fame in 2003.[3] In 2004, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society’ Higher Education Hall of Fame.[15] He was also inducted into the CASC Hall of Fame in 2013.[21] In 2019, White was posthumously inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges (OACC) Hall of Fame.[22]

Publications

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Joe E. White Library at Carl Albert State College
  • "An Effective Communication System in a Senior High School," Oklahoma Educators Association Journal
  • "A Successful Road to Accountability," Successful Ventures, State Department of Education
  • "A Plan for Implementing a Statewide Network of Regional Centers," Doctoral Dissertation, Joe E. White Library
  • "Oklahoma Higher Education’s Revised Admission and Retention Plan: What is it? Can It Work? Is it Worth the Trouble?" Eastern Oklahoma Schools Advisory Council Newsletter
  • "President’s Angle," Carl Albert State College Viking Banner

Personal life

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In 1957, White married Melba Sue Curfman.[6] They had two sons, Vance White of Los Angeles, California and Oklahoma City attorney Joe E. White Jr.[23] In 2007, he retired from Carl Albert State College, and moved to Edmond, Oklahoma.[16] That same year, he created White Energy, LLC.[16] White Energy LLC has mineral interests in fourteen Oklahoma counties.[24]

In 2014, White's wife, Melba, died at the age of 76. On May 31, 2018, he died at the age of 80. Memorials took place in Edmond and Poteau, Oklahoma.[24][25]

References

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  1. ^ "Joe White tribute scheduled June 21". Poteau Daily News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Carl Albert president to retire. College thrived under man's 31-year tenure". NewsOK. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e "College to Honor Former CASC President". The Times Record. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  4. ^ The Late Dr. Joe White is Inducted into the OACC Hall of Fame
  5. ^ "Meet Dr. Joe E. White". Carl Albert State College. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Clippings". Pampa Daily News. October 6, 1957. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  7. ^ "Alex Honors Constructive Educator". News OK. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  8. ^ "Dr. White Inducted into Hall of Fame". Heavener Ledger. January 29, 2004.
  9. ^ a b "White Wins Bid to Head Administrator's Association". Elk City Daily News. 1974.
  10. ^ a b c d "Joe White, Elk City principal, hired as school superintendent". Elk City Daily News. 1970.
  11. ^ a b "White is Selected As Elk City Coach". Elk City Daily News. April 1964.
  12. ^ a b "School Hires New Principal". Elk City Daily News. April 1986.
  13. ^ a b "City Superintendent to Visit Soviet Union". Elk City Daily News. March 1973.
  14. ^ a b "White to enter Hall of Fame". Poteau Daily News. June 12, 2004.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Joe White Selected To Oklahoma Higher Education Hall Of Fame". Sequoyah County Times. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c "Development Foundation". Carl Albert State College. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  17. ^ "News release: NewsOK regarding Jimmy Carter Lecture Series". News OK. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  18. ^ "News release: NewsOK, Former President Carter To Speak at Carl Albert State College". News OK. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  19. ^ "News release: NewsOK, Former President Bush to Speak at Carl Albert State College". News OK. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  20. ^ "White enters Hall of Fame" (PDF). Poteau Daily News. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  21. ^ "Spotlight Will Shine on Dr. Joe E. White at Carl Albert State College "A Night with the Stars"". OKW News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  22. ^ CASC Employees Honored At Conference
  23. ^ "Carl Albert State College Development Foundation Honors J.C. Holton Family and Dr. Joe E. White". OKW News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Obituary".
  25. ^ "The Presidential Legacy of Dr. Joe E. White".