Joe Slade is a winner, too. The eldest of five children, he rose out of abject poverty as a teenager using his faith, strong education, and athletic abilities to become the first bachelor-degree graduate in his family’s history. And he learned by making mistakes—a hell of a lot of them.
In high school, he played for winning teams. After an honorable discharge in 1966, he returned to college and played as a partial-scholarship baseball athlete. He also worked multiple part-time jobs to pay for food, clothing, and all the costs that go along with learning and growing.
After college, he learned to play rugby and excelled “on the pitch” and in his early business career. He was asked to try out for the Texas Touring Side and played fly half (QB) for that team for two years. When the coach wanted to win, he said, “Give Slade the ball.”
Joe also gave back, starting with a volunteer stint with the Galveston County Chapter of the American Red Cross at age 24. He has volunteered in a range of community, regional, and national organizations every year since. He was often named to leadership roles in these organizations. Today, he is a volunteer member of the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Business & Education Committee.
Along the way, he has been blessed to be father of three beautiful, competent, and capable daughters. Sabra, Erin, and Courtney are all successful, creative talents in their professions.
From 2009–2011, Joe played on the Golf Channel Amateur Tour Austin-San Antonio circuit. He won 12 USGA-sanctioned tourneys in his flight and qualified in 2010 and 2011 for the GC Am Tour Senior National Championship. At TPC Sawgrass, he bested 94 other golfers in his flight. The next year at PGA West, he finished in the top 10 of a tougher flight. He also won numerous Championships at Horseshoe Bay, including two Senior Men’s Club Championships. He served on the board of the MGA and was elected president in 2013.
Joe continues to be grateful for the successful people who have taught him well. And, he continues to learn. He makes it a priority to be happy and healthy, and he takes time to mentor clean technology startup teams and younger business professionals who are willing to learn.
