Joe E White

Early life and education

Joe E. White was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 3, 1937 to C.W. and Cleo White. White graduated from Alex High School in Alex, Oklahoma in 1955. From 1956-1958, White attended Murray State College where he played fullback on the Murray State College, football team. 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.

In 1965, White completed his Masters in Education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He returned to Oklahoma State University in 1974 completing his Doctorate in education.

Career

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

White started at Elk City High School as a teacher, football coach, athletic director followed by assistant principal. He became Elk City High School’s head principal in 1968. He left Elk City to become superintendent of schools in Sentinel, Oklahoma in 1970. White later served as Elk City Public Schools superintendent. 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.

White was appointed president of Carl Albert State College (CASC) in 1975.

Carl Albert State College

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

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

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

Other associations

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

White was inducted into the Murray State College Distinguished Athlete Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2004, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society’ Higher Education Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the CASC Hall of Fame in 2013.

Publications

Personal life

In 1957, White married Melba Sue Curfman. They have two sons, Vance White of Los Angeles, California and Oklahoma City attorney Joe E. White Jr. In 2007, he retired from Carl Albert State College, and moved to Edmond, Oklahoma. That same year, he created White Energy, LLC.