Gary R. Wade was named Vice President and Dean of Lincoln Memorial University's Duncan School of Law on July 28, 2015, taking the position on September 9, following his retirement from the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Wade received his B.S. degree cum laude from the University of Tennessee in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1973.
Wade was in private practice from 1973 to 1987. He served as the mayor of Sevierville from 1977 to 1987. Wade was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 1987, and was elected 1988. He was re-elected in 1990, 1998 and 2006. Wade served as presiding judge of the court from 1998 to 2006.
Wade was appointed to the Tennessee supreme court on May 30, 2006 by Governor Phil Bredesen and took office on September 1, 2006. He was one of four justices on the five-justice court appointed by Bredesen. Wade served as Chief Justice on September 1, 2012 from to August 31, 2014.
Wade was retained by Tennessee's voters to a full eight-year term on the court in August 2008 and retained again in August 2014 to another eight-year term. Wade retired on September 8, 2015.
The state's Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission recommended Justice Wade be retained for another term in the August 7, 2014 retention election.
Awards and recognition
2011: Scouts of America Great Smoky Mountain Council Good Scout Award2010: Recipient of the Legacy Award from Friends of the Smokies2009: Lincoln Memorial University Commencement, Keynote Speaker2007-2008: Power100, Business TN2007: Raymond L. Gardner Alumnus of the Year, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity2007: United States Department of Interior Citizens Award for Exceptional Service2006: East Tennessee Regional Leadership Award2006: University of Tennessee College of Law Commencement, Keynote Speaker2005, 2008: American Legion Boys State, Keynote Speaker2005: Garden Club of America Conservation Award2004: Appellate Judge of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates2004: Judicial Excellence Award, Knoxville Bar Association2004: Citizen of the Year, Sevierville Chamber of Commerce2004: Sevier County High School Wall of Fame2001: Thornton Athletic Student Life Center Award, University of Tennessee2000: Walters State Community College Commencement, Keynote Speaker1999: Lions Club International Melvin Jones Fellow1997–Present: United Way Leadership Society1996: Pellissippi State Technical Community College Commencement, Keynote Speaker1996: Superintendent's MVP - Great Smoky Mountains National Park1987: Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Award1987: Gary R. Wade Boulevard1987: Key to City Award by City of Sevierville1987: American Heart Association Presidential Award1983, 84, 85, 97: Sevier County Mover and Shaker of the Year by The Mountain Press1980: Outstanding Young Men of America, Who's Who in American LawMember, American Bar Association1995-1996: DelegateMember, Tennessee Bar Association1980-1988: House of Delegates1995-1996: Board of Governors2008-Present: Fellow, Young Lawyers DivisionMember, Knoxville Bar Association2004 Board of GovernorsMember, Sevier County Bar Association1988–Present: Member, American Inns of Court2009–Present: Fellow, American Bar Foundation2008–Present: Fellow, Knoxville Bar Foundation2006–Present: Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation1998–Present: Tennessee Bar Association Fellow, Young Lawyers DivisionWalters State Community College Foundation2005-2006: President1998-Present: Board of Trustees1996–Present: Founder and secretary, Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation1996–Present: Member, Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society1994–Present: Fellow, Tennessee Bar Foundation1994–Present: Dean's Circle, University of Tennessee1993–Present: Board of Visitors, University of Tennessee1993–Present: Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, co-founder, past president, and president emeritus1987–Present: Tennessee Judicial Conference; President, 1995-19961998-2006: Member, Council of Chief Judges2004-2005: Member, Governor's Task Force on Sentencing2003-2005: Maryville College Board of Trustees; Finance Committee, 2004-20051998-2005: UT Development Council1997-2002: Pellissippi State Technical Community College, President's Associates1990-1997: Eta South Province President, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity1996: Member, Special Joint Committee (Senate Joint Resolution 477) on Special and Pro Tempore Judges1995-1996: Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors1995-1996: Leadership Knoxville Class1993-1996: Member, Commission on Future of the Tennessee Judicial System1990-1994: Member, Tennessee Sentencing Commission1980-1988: Tennessee Bar Association House of Delegates1985-1987: Member, Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund, Board of Directors and Treasurer1983-1987: Member, Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association1983-1987: Member, National Association of Municipal Law Officers1973-1987: Member, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association1973-1984: Member, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Board of Directors, 1978-19841972: Sevierville Lions Club, Past President1972-1987: Sevier County Volunteer Legal Assistance Program1977-1979: Sevierville Community Center Capital Campaign, Chair1984, 1985, 1986: Sevier County Heart Association, Chairman1984-1986, 2004-2006: Sevier County United Way, Board of Directors1986-1987: East Tennessee Chapter of American Heart Association, Vice President1989-1994: First United Methodist Church of Sevierville, Finance Chair1996-2000: First United Methodist Church Conference, Finance Chair, Maryville DistrictFriends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park1993-2005: Co-Founder and President2005-2006: Board Chair2007-Present: Chairman Emeritus1996-2002: East Tennessee Foundation Board of Directors1996: Honorary Chair, Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains Capital Campaign1997-1998: Board of Directors, YMCA Metropolitan Knoxville1997-2004: Board of Directors, AAA East Tennessee1997: Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Knoxville Campaign Cabinet1997-2008: Board of Directors, Tennessee's Resource Valley1998-2000, 2006–Present: East Tennessee Historical Society Board of Directors1998–Present: Sevier County High School Foundation Board of DirectorsKnoxville Zoological Gardens2000-2006: Board of Directors2002-2004: Vice Chair2005-2006: Chair2006-Present: Honorary Director2000-2003: Board of Directors, Fort Sanders Foundation2000-2002: Nine Counties, One Vision, Chair, Transportation Committee2001-2006: ALCOA Community Advisory Board2002-2004: Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Board2003-2005: Board of Directors, Friends of Headrick Chapel2004–Present: Sevier County Library Foundation2004-2006: Board of Directors, Museum of Appalachia, Vice ChairLeadership Sevier1996: Co-Founder1996-Present: Board of Directors2001: President
