A long-time fixture in the Commerce community, Dr. Louie Bledsoe is in his third season as head golf coach for both men and women at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Bledsoe brings a wealth of administrative and coaching experience to the university.

Last year, Bledsoe directed the Lions men's and women's golf teams to a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Lone Star Conference Championships. In addition, he coached Blake Worden, who reached the NCAA Division II South Central Super Regional and earned All-Lone Star Conference honors.

Bledsoe retired as the director of parks and recreation for the city of Commerce in December 2003 after serving for six years. He was responsible for youth sports activities, senior adult activities, the city pool and maintenance of the city's parks and sports facilities.

He came to Commerce in 1990 as principal of Commerce High School and retired in 1993 after a 33-year tenure in Texas public schools. Prior to coming to Commerce, Bledsoe served as principal of Cedar Hill High School. He also spent 24 years in the Dallas Independent School District as an elementary teacher, high school teacher and coach and assistant principal.

A native of Dallas, Bledsoe was a football player at Adamson High until a knee injury cut his career short. He holds three degrees from the University of North Texas, earning his bachelor's in health, physical education and recreation in 1960. He added a master's in education in 1964 and a doctorate of education in administrative leadership in 1974.

He married his high school sweetheart, the former Diane Dodson, in June 1960. They have three grown children, Lisa, Laurie and James, with three grandchildren, Caley, Shea and Delaina. He served in the Texas Air National Guard for six years in the late 1950s.

Bledsoe is active in the community as well, having served on the board of directors and board president of Sand Hills Golf and Country Club and as a radio analyst for CHS and A&M-Commerce football games on KETR-FM. He has also worked in sales at KGVL-AM and KIK-FM in Greenville.