Maggie Wade Speaks to Rotary Club of North Jackson

An Emmy nominated News Anchor, Maggie attended Jackson State University, becoming the 89th member of her family to attend JSU. She transferred her sophomore year to Mississippi College to pursue a career in Corporate Law. But it was at MC she discovered her ability in radio. She worked for the school radio station, WHJT-FM, and later was hired at WJDX-MISS 103 as a radio announcer, marketing researcher and weekend news anchor.

Maggie was hired at WLBT her senior year. Since that time she has worked as weekend weather anchor, news reporter, coordinator and producer of children's programming, and now serves as 4, 4:30, 5, and 10 p.m. news co-anchor and covers stories on education, children's issues and anything else that might pop up.

Maggie received the 2014 Woman of the Year Award from the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women. She has received more than 500 other awards, including being recognized by the United States Congress in October, 2011 as an Angel In Adoption for her work on Wednesday's Child.  She was nominated by Senator Thad Cochran.  She also received the award in September, 2001, for the segment featuring foster children in the state in need of permanent homes. Through this segment 98% of the children featured have been adopted. That number currently is almost 7,000 children. Maggie was nominated by Congressman Ronnie Shows. Congressman Shows also recognized Maggie's work for children in the state on the floor of Congress.  The National Association of Social Workers, Mississippi Chapter selected Maggie as their Citizen of the Year in March, 2009 for her work with Wednesday's Child.  Most recently Maggie was honored as the 2009 Volunteer of the Year by Tougaloo College.  In October, 2011 Maggie was also appointed to a 3 year term by Governor Haley Barbour to the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service.  Most recently Maggie received the Salvation Army Lifetime Achievement Award for 2012.  She is also a recipient of the Father Donald W. Lloyd Memorial Award presented in August of 2013, in recognition of Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy by the Marie R. Hoerner Foundation. She was also recognized by Catholic Charities for her support in 2012.

Maggie is now a proud member of the Mississippi Association of Public Broadcasters Hall of Fame. She was inducted at a ceremony in April, 2009. She has also received the Top 40 under 40 Business Award from the Mississippi Business Journal , she has been recognized by the Mississippi Junior Chamber of Commerce as an Outstanding Young Mississippian, and she was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Mississippi Families for Kids. She has received both the district and state Service to Mankind Award, Outstanding Young Woman in America, Woman of the Year from Alcorn State University, Meritorious Leadership Award from Tougaloo College, and the State NAACP Vernon Dahmer Award for service to children. The NAACP also recognized her work with Wednesday's Child in 1996. She was honored with the Service to Education Award from Jackson State University, Outstanding Career Woman from Jackson Sales and Marketing Executives, and Woman of the Year from the State Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee. She was also honored for Outstanding Community Service by the Jackson Music Awards. Maggie was recognized with the Angel in Adoption Award from Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth for 2003. Maggie was also recognized in 2007 by the Mississippi Nurses Foundation as a Friend of Nursing.  She has hosted the Harmony for Health concert for the group for the last three years.

We thank Maggie for speaking to our club and for all the the good that she has done for the citizens, in particular, the children of Mississippi.