Tad Thrash
Name: Tad Thrash
Birth Name: Edsel Earl Thrash
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Birthplace: Lake, Mississippi, USA
Died: 2012-05-01 (Age:86)
Referee: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
Obituary
Edsel Earl "Tad" Thrash went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 1, 2012. Tad was born in Lake, Ms on August 28, 1925. Tad was a man who devoted his life to his family, Church, and Education. He is preceded in his death by his parents, George W. and Ollie Elizabeth Thrash. Tad and his beloved wife of 63 years, Jessie, were long time residents of Raymond, MS. Visitation will be at Raymond United Methodist Church on Friday, May 4, 2012, from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. with the service immediately following at 11:00. Graveside will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Lake, MS.
Tad graduated from Lake High School in 1943. He then served his country in the U. S. Navy from 1943-1946. After completing his service to his country, he enrolled at Hinds Jr. College from 1946-1948. While attending Hinds, he was elected Mr. Hinds Jr. College. He lettered in football, track and boxing. He also was Alumnus of the Year in 1968. Tad continued his education at Louisiana State University receiving his master's degree in Business Administration in 1951. He then continued his studies at LSU and in 1963; he earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree with an emphasis on Economics and Public Finance. While at LSU, Tad lettered in Boxing in 1949 and 1950. Tad is most known for winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Boxing Championship in 1949 and 1950. He was inducted to the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1950. He was also inducted to the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction.
Tad's success continued throughout his career. He was head Boxing Coach at LSU, Director of Alumni Affairs at LSU, an Economics Faculty Member at LSU. He then received the National "L" Club Award for the most successful Varsity Coach at LSU, 1955-1956. In 1968 he and his family moved to Mississippi where he served his state as the Executive Secretary and Director of the Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning (currently known as the Commissioner of Higher Education) from 1968-1987. He was also involved nationally with the State Higher Education Executive Officer s (SHEEO) and was the SHEEO President in 1984-1985. After retiring in 1987, he continued working as a Distinguished Professor of Health Care Economics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Tad served his Lord as a member of the United Methodist Church in Raymond. He also was a member of the Rotary Club of Jackson, LSU Faculty Club, and was on the Executive Council of the Boy Scouts of America where he received the Silver Beaver Award in 1977.
He enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Jessie McLendon Thrash, his daughter Jane Thrash Tetmeyer (Zionsville, IN) and her husband Bill, Catherine Thrash (Durham, NC), and son George Thrash and his wife Penny of Raymond. He had 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.