BURTON OLIVER WADE

Burton Oliver Wade was born in Buena Vista, Colorado on September 9, 1903 to Benjamin Orlando and Anna Marguerite Johnson Wade. He married Ella Mae Tucker on October 19, 1930. They had two children, Manley Burt and Wellesley Loren. He married Marion Carolyn McQuade on August 6, 1941, and they had one daughter, Marilyn Joan.

He attended De Baca Co. Consolidate High School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1925 from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. He received his doctor of medicine degree from Loma Linda Medical School in Los Angeles, California in 1932. Dr. Wade interned at the United States Naval Hospital in San Diego, California in 1931-1932.

Dr. Wade came to Hawaii on April 27, 1934 and was a plantation physician at Waimea Hospital on Kauai and the Kekaha Sugar Co., Ltd. from 1934-1946 and again after serving in the United States Navy. He was physician and surgeon for Gay and Robinson at Makaweli, Kauai during the same periods. Dr. Wade was appointed local registrar and government physician for the Waimea district 1934-1941 and at the C.C.C. Camp (Civilian Conservation Corps) at Kokee, Kauai 1941 and Olokele Sugar Co. in 1941 and 1946 after his military services.

He served as consulting surgeon at Sam Mahelone Memorial Hospital, Medical Director of Waimea Hospital and Chief of Staff at V.A. Hospital Waimea in 1957. He was also staff physician of G.N. Wilcox Memorial Hospital. He was licensed to practice medicine in California and in Hawaii in 1934. He became a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1932.

Dr. Wade was a member of the Medical Corps of the U.S. Navy and served as Lt. (j.g.) in the Naval Hospital in California in 1931. He was a member of the Medical Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1935-1947. In 1945 he was advanced to Captain and saw active duty in World War II from December 17, 1941-January 1946. He served at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, South Pacific with the 3rd Fleet and the 13th Naval District. He saw action as a member of Admiral Halsey's Staff in the Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and the Philippine Islands. Perhaps his most notable experience was caring for Mr. Kanahele, who was shot by the pilot of the single engine enemy plane which landed on Niihau Island on December 7, 1941. Mr. Kanahele killed the Japanese pilot with a rock to his head despite having been shot several times by the pilot who had held the residents of Niihau captive for several days.

Dr. Wade was a member of the American Medical Association; Association of Military Surgeons of the United States; San Diego (California) Academy of Medicine (1932-1933); Territorial Medical Association, and served as third Vice-President in 1941, Vice-President 1946-47; Kauai County Medical Society and served as Secretary-Treasurer 1939-40, President 1941-42 and 1946-47; and American Industrial Physicians. Dr. Wade also held membership in the Pan Pacific Surgical Association and served on the Board of Directors in 1952. In 1964 he was elected Councillor of the Hawaii chapter of the American College of Surgeons. He was appointed to the State Board of Health in 1965, again in 1969 and served until 1972. He retired from active practice in 1972.

In 1980 Dr. Wade was honored as one of three doctors "Outstanding Citizens of the Seventies". He was elected to the Hawaii Medical Service Association Board of Directors and elected President in 1962 and reelected President in 1963. Dr. Wade was a member of Kauai Chamber of Commerce; National Rifle Association; Makaweli Rifle and Pistol Club. He was a member of the Lions International and served as Zone Chairman 1940-41 and Deputy District Governor District 50 1948-1949; charter member of the West Kauai Lions and served as President 1937-39. He was also a member of Kauai's Kikiaola Boat Club and served as 1st Vice Commodore; and Kauai Post No. 2 American Legion and served as Commander of the group. He held membership in College of Medical Evangelists Alumni Association; Friend of the White Memorial Library, Kekaha Pistol Club and Olokele Social Club.

Dr. Wade was an enthusiastic participant in fishing tournaments and often honored for his catches. He frequently traveled to the Mainland for medical conventions and combined such trips with visits with family and friends. He was also an international traveler, including Japan and Germany.

In Memoriam Index