Lily Margaret Wade stood as a pioneer of women’s college basketball. Winning three national championships in six years as Delta State University’s coach in the 1970s, she became the first woman to be inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame. The Wade Trophy, awarded to the top women’s collegiate basketball player, was named in her honor in 1978. Her dedication and love of the game guided talents such as Debbie Brock, Melissa (Cornelia) Ward, and Lusia Harris Stewart, a three time All-American and Olympic Silver medalist. At her alma mater, the 1932 Delta State graduate enjoyed a 157-23 career record, winning AIAW national titles in 1975, 1976 and 1977. With ties to the town of Cleveland, Mississippi and its people, Wade coached for 17 years at Cleveland High School with a 453-89-6 record before leaving for Delta State University.

This collection gathered together photographs, correspondences, and newspaper clippings related to Coach Margaret Wade and her three championship seasons in mid 1970s. These items were taken from a bulletin board stored in University’s physical plant and now preserved in the Delta State’s archives. Through this collection viewers have an inside look into the celebrations of championships, the women whose lives she touched, Wade’s close relationships with Delta State University, the town of Cleveland, and their leaders, and her later retirement. Without a doubt there was and remains enormous pride and love felt for Coach Wade.