ABOUT WADE
Wade Edwards was a high school student at Needham B.
Broughton High School in Raleigh, North Carolina when he
died on April 4, 1996. An honor student, a winner
of national, state, and local writing awards, a high
school athlete, an editor of the yearbook, and a
cherished friend, Wade exemplified the community's
aspirations for excellence, compassion, and
character.
Wade is the son of John and Elizabeth Edwards. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 18, 1979, and he died on April 4, 1996, at the age of 16. Wade has three siblings: he grew up with his younger sister, Cate, while Emma Claire and John Atticus were born after his death.
In the spring of 1996, Wade was a finalist in a national
essay contest for high school students co-sponsored by
the Voice of America and National Endowment
for the Humanities. The theme
of the contest was "What It Means To Be an
American," and Wade's winning essay was "Fancy Clothes
and Overalls." Wade
attended the awards ceremony and visited the First Lady
at the White House just three weeks before his
death. That same spring his short story, "Summits," received regional
Literary Arts and statewide Scholastic awards. On
invitation, Wade attended the National Youth Leadership
Conference in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 1995.
In addition to his academic
accomplishments, Wade participated for over ten years at
various levels with the Capital Area Soccer
League. He attended Woodberry Forest
Sports Camp, the Colorado Outward
Bound School, and every home
basketball game of the University of North
Carolina Tar Heels. He went
white water rafting in Arizona and fly-fishing in
Colorado. And he taught his family -- and many of
his friends -- how to use a computer.
In the summer of 1995, he and his
father successfully climbed the difficult Machame and
Shira route to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, at 19,343 feet
the highest peak in Africa. Matt Leonard, a friend
who climbed with them, later became the first Director of
the Wade Edwards Learning Lab.
Wade worked after school for his
father's law firm, Edwards & Kirby, and he
participated in Broughton High School's community service
program, working for the Wake Education Partnership, the
Daniels Middle School Parent-Teacher Association,
political campaigns, and Broughton High School.
Senator Helms, whom Wade met in March
1996, gave a eulogy for Wade on the floor of
the United States Senate. The local newpaper, the News
and Observer, wrote a tender editorial about Wade's death
called "A Great
Kid."
In Wade's name, members of the
community helped Wade's family and friends establish the
Wade Edwards Foundation for the purpose of motivating,
inspiring, and rewarding young people.
There have been other tributes to Wade
as well. His sister, Cate, who had just turned 14
when Wade died, wrote a poem in his memory. His
friend, then student body president-elect Hayes Permar,
wrote a song. Another song was written and recorded
by Indoor Storm. Wade's elementary school planted a
tree in his name at the school and placed a memory brick
in their walk. The Junior Classical League renamed
their spring gathering as Attic Night, in recognition of
Wade's Latin name, Atticus. The Latipac,
Broughton's yearbook, now gives an annual award in Wade's
name, and the 1997 yearbook was dedicated to his
memory. The Capital Area Soccer League memorialized
him in the program of the 1996 Shoot Out. Jim
Jenkins, a columnist for the News and Observer, wrote "Wade's Legacy
of Wisdom and Love."
The North Carolina Trial Lawyers Association renamed the state moot court competition. It is now called the Wade Edwards High School Moot Court Competition, drawing participants from all over the state competing for the privilege of representing the state at the national high school moot court competition. The 1999 winners, from Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, finished fifth nationally, North Carolina's best showing ever.
Wade is buried at the historic Oakwood Cemetary, the resting place
of seven governors and numerous U.S. Senators.
