He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1951. Meade was zone operations commissioner for the Federal Housing Administration from 1957 to 1961;Kentucky's commissioner of personnel from 1968 to February 1969; and a member of the Kentucky Workman's Compensation Board from 1969 to 1970.
He was unsuccessful in his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1951, holding various positions including zone operations commissioner for the Federal Housing Administration from 1957 to 1961; Kentucky's commissioner of personnel from 1968 to February 1969; and a member of the Kentucky Workman's Compensation Board from 1969 to 1970.