Both Wade and Elizabeth Weatherred (see Weatherred Family) were active in school affairs.  Wade won honors in debate and declamation.  He was active in sports and worked on the school paper, “The Roundup.”  Elizabeth also worked on the school paper and was valedictorian of the class of 1924.  The high school was the upper floor of West Ward, which was from grade one through grade eleven.  The twelfth grade was added later.  The auditorium was divided by rows of desks.  The north end of the room were freshmen rows.  The next group of desks were the sophomores, the next the juniors, and the last group of desks by the south windows were the senior rows.  The library was a former cloak room with shelves built in it for books.  A stage was at the front of the auditorium with a large wall clock beside it.  Sometimes eyes were on the clock more than the books.

Wade worked for Mr. John Henderson in Henderson Grocery Store and helped his father with ranch work.  In 1923, after graduation, Wade went to work at the Central State Bank.  He joined the National Guard.

Wade and Elizabeth were married July 24, 1929, the beginning of the Great Depression.  Their first child, Charles James, was born December 20, 1930.  They had their first real Christmas at home in 1931.  They cut a huge cedar out in the country, decorated it with strings of popped corn and ‘splurged’ by buying a string of lights.  They made James (Jimmy’s) little chair from an apple box.  It was a beautiful happy Christmas.

Jimmy graduated from Coleman High in 1948. While in school, he was active in sports, was a member of 4-H and F.F.A., and showed calves.  He was awarded Lone Star Farmer and American Farmer.  He was a delegate to Boys’ State.  During his senior year, he joined the National Guard.  On February 16, 1952, he and Retha Sue Wilson, daughter of Herman Olan and Grace (Thomason) Wilson, were married at Leaday.  Jimmy and Sue have three children, all of whom graduated from Coleman High School.  These children are: Sandra Sue, born February 11, 1953, at Coleman.  She is a graduate of Howard Payne and married to Jimmy Dan Edington.  They have a son, Jim Bob, born February 28, 1975.  Jamie Elaine, born October 6, 1956; a graduate of Texas Tech; and married December 29, 1979, to James Nelson Pool, Jr.; they have a son, James Nelson III, (Tres) born April 6, 1982, in Brownwood; and Charles James Jr., born September 18, 1957; graduate of Texas Tech.  He is ranching with his father and Grandfather Wade.

Ruth Ann, the second child of Wade and Elizabeth was born March 15, 1941.  She graduated from Coleman High School in 1959.  During her high school days, she played basketball, was Rodeo Queen, and school favorite.  She received a degree from Baylor University, in 1963, and was listed as one of the outstanding women graduates for Who’s Who in American Universities.  She taught school in Dallas, Coleman, Cuero, and San Perlita.  On June 6, 1964, she and Jerry King Taylor (born November 6, 1939, son of Joseph Kyle and Karen Ruth (Sullivan) Taylor) were married in Coleman.  Ruth Ann and Jerry have two daughters. The older daughter is Elizabeth Karen, born November 25, 1966.  In 1982, she was listed in math in Who’s Who in American High Schools.  The second daughter, Josaphine, was born October 12, 1970.  She and her older sister are active in 4H, sports, and various school activities.  They live at Westoff, Texas.

Banking became Wade’s career with ranching on the side.  In 1970, after 47 years of banking, Wade retired from the presidency of the First Coleman National Bank and he and Elizabeth moved to the ranch, making it their home.  Wade served twelve more years as a bank director and loan committee officer of the bank.  He is a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Coleman.  He was chairman of the Sixth District Meeting in San Angelo, and was president of the National Association of Bank Controllers and Auditors in Abilene.  He is also a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary.  In 1979, Wade and Elizabeth celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.