March 10, 2016
Photos | Bill Wade: Vanderbilt Football Legend Part I | Part II | VU HOF Bio
Legendary Vanderbilt football player and Nashville hometown hero Bill Wade has passed away, members of his family have confirmed today.
Mr. Wade died in Nashville Wednesday night at the age of 85, after battling poor health for several years.
In 1951, one year after setting a Vanderbilt record with 16 touchdown passes, the product of nearby Montgomery Bell Academy was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the year and an All-American as the Commodores’ senior quarterback.
Wade, a Look magazine coverboy during his Commodore playing days, would be selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the No. 1 overall pick of the 1952 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed a 13-year professional career, starting for the Rams and Chicago Bears. In 1963, Wade guided the Bears to the 1963 NFL Championship by rushing for both Chicago touchdowns in the clinching title game over New York.
When his football career ended, Wade returned to his beloved Nashville, raising his family while serving as a top official at Third National Bank for many years.
Wade was raised in a Vanderbilt family. His father, W.J. Wade, was captain of Dan McGugin’s 1921 7-0-1 squad.
As a Commodore student-athlete, he stood out on the field and in the classroom. As a starting quarterback, he set virtually every Vanderbilt passing record, including 31 touchdown passes and 3,397 passing yards. He remains among the Commodore all-time Top Ten in several passing categories.
In 2008, Wade was inducted in the inaugural Vanderbilt Athletics’ Hall of Fame class.
