Joe E. White

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]

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]

Carl Albert State College

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]

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

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]