Charles Cadenhead

Colonel Charles Robert Cadenhead, age 86, was born in Greenville, Miss. April 26, 1923. He has lived in Gulfport since 1977. He graduated from Greenville High School where he was an outstanding athlete and received a football scholarship to Mississippi State University. He played center and linebacker for the 1942 Bulldogs before his education was interrupted by World War II.
After undergoing U. S. Army pilot training he became a B-24 bomber pilot and served in Italy. He was decorated with multiple awards. He returned after earning his discharge in 1945 to resume his education and football career at Mississippi State, where he was starter for the next three years. In addition to football, he was active in social, fraternal and service organizations on campus, was a member and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and president of the "M" club. He was elected to Who's Who, Blue Key and Inter Fraternity Council.
After graduation he was a supporter and member of the "M" Club and the "Bulldog Club".
Upon receiving a bachelor's degree in education, he coached football, basketball and baseball and taught algebra, physics and chemistry for two years in Aliceville High in Alabama. He returned to Greenville as coach and teacher in 1950, but was recalled to active military duty in early 1951 during the Korean War and remained on active duty until his retirement in 1974.
Military schools attended by Cadenhead included pilot training, artillery, guided missile, Army Command and General Staff College and Defense Computer Institute. Upon retirement, he returned to Mississippi State and earned his master's degree in personnel guidance and served for six months as industrial coordinator for the Mississippi Agricultural & Industrial Board, the forerunner of the Mississippi Department of Economic Development.
He then became executive director of the Starkville Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Industrial Development Foundation. In 1977 his good friend and football teammate, Leo Seal, asked him to join Hancock Bank as Personal Director, a position of Vice President in charge of personal that he held until his retirement in 1988. After retirement he helped establish the "Hancock Bank Retiree Asso. and served as the first President.
Colonel Cadenhead, an avid tennis player and golfer, was a charter member of the Bayou Bluff Tennis Club and a former member of the Sunkist Country club, the Rotary Club of Gulfport, the Metropolitan Dinner Club. Gridiron Club and Mississippi State "M" Club, Mississippi State Bulldog Club and the Metropolitan Diner Club.
A member of the Gulf Coast chapter of the National Football Foundation, he served as treasurer for many years. He received the Distinguished American Award and was also honored for his many years of service in 2005 by calling the merit award the "Bobby Cadenhead Merit Award". He was a member of the Gulfport Rotary Club, serving on numerous committees. Mr. Cadenhead was named "Rotarian of the Year" in 1993, was a "Paul Harris Fellow and served as President of the Gulfport Rotary Club and Governor of the District. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church having served in many leadership positions, including Elder, Adult Sunday School Teacher and chairman of several committees.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Quilla Austin Cadenhead; son, David John Cadenhead; brother John O. Cadenhead; and his first wife, Detrice Winfield Cadenhead.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Foster Cadenhead of Gulfport, brother, William Cadenhead (Rachel) of Florence, Ala.; his four children, Nancy Cadenhead of Fredrickburg, Md., Joy Odom (Lynn), Robert Cadenhead (Kim), Hope Cadenhead, all of Starkville Ms.; two step children, Thomas Daniel Dabbs (Teresa), Donna E. Brown (Andy) from Gulfport, Ms., 13 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Gulfport, at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:30 AM until service.
Burial will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 5005 Lawson Dr., Gulfport, MS 39507.
An online obituary may be viewed and guestbook signed at www.riemannfamily.com.