Suzanne Wade was inducted into the Spears School of Business Hall of Fame on Oct. 10, 2025 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Wade’s retail career spans over 40 years. While she started as a sales clerk during high school and college, her career culminated with senior executive positions at Walmart and H-E-B. Raised in Holdenville, Oklahoma, Wade graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from OSU in 1977. She also completed the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and obtained her MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Early in her career, Wade taught fashion merchandising at Oklahoma City-area high schools. She was recruited to corporate training opportunities, first at TG&Y Stores and then at Walmart, where she launched the Walton Institute of Retailing. Wade spent 11 years at Walmart, serving as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Senior Vice President of Membership, Marketing and Administration for Sam’s Club. In 1992, the Personnel Journal recognized her as a Top 20 HR Executive. In 1997, Wade joined H-E-B, an expansive Texas-based supermarket chain. She held leadership positions in sales and advertising, H-E-B Own Brand and human resources. However, for most of her H-E-B career, she led the company’s largest operating division as President of San Antonio Food/Drug Stores, encompassing more than 200 stores. Wade has received awards from the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame, San Antonio American Heart Association, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Girl Scouts and Women United. She also won the H-E-B Fully Clingman Leadership Award. She has invested in OSU through the Suzanne Allford Wade Endowed Scholarship and her membership in the Women for OSU Council. With an extensive history of community service, she currently serves on the San Antonio Area Foundation Board and chairs The Young Women’s Leadership Academy Advisory Board. Wade has two stepdaughters and four grandchildren with her husband, Dick Wade.