Joe E. White

Joe Ellis White (July 3, 1937 – May 31, 2018) was an American educator and oil and gas investor. White served as President of Carl Albert State College from 1975 to 2007.

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.

Early life and education White was born in Oklahoma City, on July 3, 1937 to C. W. and Cleo White. White graduated from Alex High School in Alex, Oklahoma in 1955. From 1956 to 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 master's degree in education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He returned to Oklahoma State University in 1974 completing his Doctorate in education. 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. 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. During his tenure at CASC, from 1975 to 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. 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 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. In 2019, White was posthumously inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges (OACC) Hall of Fame.

Personal life In 1957, White married Melba Sue Curfman. In 2007, he retired from Carl Albert State College, and moved to Edmond, Oklahoma.

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.

Publications

"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