Age 57
Son of James W. and Helen Hendricks Blades.
Husband of Bonnie J. Blades.
Father of Scott Blades, Jill Zink.
Mr. Blades attended the Felton High School. Upon graduation, he received a bachelors degree from West Chester University and later acquired his masters degree from Salisbury University. Mr. Blades was also a First Lieutenant for the Army National Guard. Before his retirement in 2002, Mr. Blades was a teacher, coach, and athletic director for the Lake Forest School District (33 years), and most recently Saint Thomas More Academy (2 years). As an athletic director and coach, Mr. Blades worked hard at making his teams worthy of respect, most notably the girls and boys cross country and track and field. He thoroughly enjoyed coaching the students and was an inspiration to his students and faculty alike and earned much love, loyalty, and respect. During the two short years at St. Thomas More Academy, he turned around their struggling athletic program and at the same time, trained his replacement. All of these accomplishments and his devotion and love for Lake Forest earned him the honor of having the Lake Forest High School Stadium renamed the James H. Blades Stadium.
Some of his coaching accomplishments include 18 state championships and 25 runner ups, 25 conference coach of the year awards, 4 state coach of the year awards, and in 1988 the region 2 cross country coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
Mr. Blades leadership accomplishments include State Cross Country Chairman, treasurer of his conference athletic director's association, member of the State Track and Field and State Swimming and Diving Committees, board of directors for DSAA which is now DIAA, founder and director of the prestigious Lake Forest Cross Country Invitational (33 Years) and the Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational (25 years), and meet director for the conference and state cross country and track and field championships. He took the initiative to host the first girls cross-country championships, and the state finally recognized it as a sport for girls. Using the St. Thomas Moore Academy gym, he established a 4-week high school boys and girls summer basketball league, a 4-week sports fitness camp, a girls volleyball camp, and a weeklong basketball camp for boys and girls grades 4 through 8. His work at the St. Thomas More Academy has led to a partnership with the Lake Forest School District. Lake Forest allows St. Thomas More Academy use of their track and field facility, and both schools have united to coordinate the Lake Forest Cross Country and Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational.
At home, Mr. Blades enjoyed gardening and traveling with his family. He enjoyed working at the Delaware State Fair in the Pete Pizzadeli's stand. Mr. Blades was a faithful member of the Felton United Methodist Church and a devote Christian.
Son of James W. and Helen Hendricks Blades.
Husband of Bonnie J. Blades.
Father of Scott Blades, Jill Zink.
Mr. Blades attended the Felton High School. Upon graduation, he received a bachelors degree from West Chester University and later acquired his masters degree from Salisbury University. Mr. Blades was also a First Lieutenant for the Army National Guard. Before his retirement in 2002, Mr. Blades was a teacher, coach, and athletic director for the Lake Forest School District (33 years), and most recently Saint Thomas More Academy (2 years). As an athletic director and coach, Mr. Blades worked hard at making his teams worthy of respect, most notably the girls and boys cross country and track and field. He thoroughly enjoyed coaching the students and was an inspiration to his students and faculty alike and earned much love, loyalty, and respect. During the two short years at St. Thomas More Academy, he turned around their struggling athletic program and at the same time, trained his replacement. All of these accomplishments and his devotion and love for Lake Forest earned him the honor of having the Lake Forest High School Stadium renamed the James H. Blades Stadium.
Some of his coaching accomplishments include 18 state championships and 25 runner ups, 25 conference coach of the year awards, 4 state coach of the year awards, and in 1988 the region 2 cross country coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
Mr. Blades leadership accomplishments include State Cross Country Chairman, treasurer of his conference athletic director's association, member of the State Track and Field and State Swimming and Diving Committees, board of directors for DSAA which is now DIAA, founder and director of the prestigious Lake Forest Cross Country Invitational (33 Years) and the Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational (25 years), and meet director for the conference and state cross country and track and field championships. He took the initiative to host the first girls cross-country championships, and the state finally recognized it as a sport for girls. Using the St. Thomas Moore Academy gym, he established a 4-week high school boys and girls summer basketball league, a 4-week sports fitness camp, a girls volleyball camp, and a weeklong basketball camp for boys and girls grades 4 through 8. His work at the St. Thomas More Academy has led to a partnership with the Lake Forest School District. Lake Forest allows St. Thomas More Academy use of their track and field facility, and both schools have united to coordinate the Lake Forest Cross Country and Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational.
At home, Mr. Blades enjoyed gardening and traveling with his family. He enjoyed working at the Delaware State Fair in the Pete Pizzadeli's stand. Mr. Blades was a faithful member of the Felton United Methodist Church and a devote Christian.
Age 57
Son of James W. and Helen Hendricks Blades.
Husband of Bonnie J. Blades.
Father of Scott Blades, Jill Zink.
Mr. Blades attended the Felton High School. Upon graduation, he received a bachelors degree from West Chester University and later acquired his masters degree from Salisbury University. Mr. Blades was also a First Lieutenant for the Army National Guard. Before his retirement in 2002, Mr. Blades was a teacher, coach, and athletic director for the Lake Forest School District (33 years), and most recently Saint Thomas More Academy (2 years). As an athletic director and coach, Mr. Blades worked hard at making his teams worthy of respect, most notably the girls and boys cross country and track and field. He thoroughly enjoyed coaching the students and was an inspiration to his students and faculty alike and earned much love, loyalty, and respect. During the two short years at St. Thomas More Academy, he turned around their struggling athletic program and at the same time, trained his replacement. All of these accomplishments and his devotion and love for Lake Forest earned him the honor of having the Lake Forest High School Stadium renamed the James H. Blades Stadium.
Some of his coaching accomplishments include 18 state championships and 25 runner ups, 25 conference coach of the year awards, 4 state coach of the year awards, and in 1988 the region 2 cross country coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
Mr. Blades leadership accomplishments include State Cross Country Chairman, treasurer of his conference athletic director's association, member of the State Track and Field and State Swimming and Diving Committees, board of directors for DSAA which is now DIAA, founder and director of the prestigious Lake Forest Cross Country Invitational (33 Years) and the Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational (25 years), and meet director for the conference and state cross country and track and field championships. He took the initiative to host the first girls cross-country championships, and the state finally recognized it as a sport for girls. Using the St. Thomas Moore Academy gym, he established a 4-week high school boys and girls summer basketball league, a 4-week sports fitness camp, a girls volleyball camp, and a weeklong basketball camp for boys and girls grades 4 through 8. His work at the St. Thomas More Academy has led to a partnership with the Lake Forest School District. Lake Forest allows St. Thomas More Academy use of their track and field facility, and both schools have united to coordinate the Lake Forest Cross Country and Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational.
At home, Mr. Blades enjoyed gardening and traveling with his family. He enjoyed working at the Delaware State Fair in the Pete Pizzadeli's stand. Mr. Blades was a faithful member of the Felton United Methodist Church and a devote Christian.
Son of James W. and Helen Hendricks Blades.
Husband of Bonnie J. Blades.
Father of Scott Blades, Jill Zink.
Mr. Blades attended the Felton High School. Upon graduation, he received a bachelors degree from West Chester University and later acquired his masters degree from Salisbury University. Mr. Blades was also a First Lieutenant for the Army National Guard. Before his retirement in 2002, Mr. Blades was a teacher, coach, and athletic director for the Lake Forest School District (33 years), and most recently Saint Thomas More Academy (2 years). As an athletic director and coach, Mr. Blades worked hard at making his teams worthy of respect, most notably the girls and boys cross country and track and field. He thoroughly enjoyed coaching the students and was an inspiration to his students and faculty alike and earned much love, loyalty, and respect. During the two short years at St. Thomas More Academy, he turned around their struggling athletic program and at the same time, trained his replacement. All of these accomplishments and his devotion and love for Lake Forest earned him the honor of having the Lake Forest High School Stadium renamed the James H. Blades Stadium.
Some of his coaching accomplishments include 18 state championships and 25 runner ups, 25 conference coach of the year awards, 4 state coach of the year awards, and in 1988 the region 2 cross country coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
Mr. Blades leadership accomplishments include State Cross Country Chairman, treasurer of his conference athletic director's association, member of the State Track and Field and State Swimming and Diving Committees, board of directors for DSAA which is now DIAA, founder and director of the prestigious Lake Forest Cross Country Invitational (33 Years) and the Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational (25 years), and meet director for the conference and state cross country and track and field championships. He took the initiative to host the first girls cross-country championships, and the state finally recognized it as a sport for girls. Using the St. Thomas Moore Academy gym, he established a 4-week high school boys and girls summer basketball league, a 4-week sports fitness camp, a girls volleyball camp, and a weeklong basketball camp for boys and girls grades 4 through 8. His work at the St. Thomas More Academy has led to a partnership with the Lake Forest School District. Lake Forest allows St. Thomas More Academy use of their track and field facility, and both schools have united to coordinate the Lake Forest Cross Country and Keith S. Burgess Track and Field Invitational.
At home, Mr. Blades enjoyed gardening and traveling with his family. He enjoyed working at the Delaware State Fair in the Pete Pizzadeli's stand. Mr. Blades was a faithful member of the Felton United Methodist Church and a devote Christian.
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