Jack Edwards (American politician)
Jack Edwards | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district | |
In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1985 | |
Preceded by | Frank W. Boykin |
Succeeded by | Sonny Callahan |
Personal details | |
Born | William Jackson Edwards September 20, 1928 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
Died | September 27, 2019 Fairhope, Alabama, U.S. | (aged 91)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Jolane |
Relations | William F. Aldrich (great-great grandfather) |
Children | 2 |
Occupation | Attorney, lawmaker |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1947-1951 |
Battles/wars | Korean War |
William Jackson Edwards (September 20, 1928 – September 27, 2019) was an Alabama lawyer and politician who represented the 1st Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 to 1985. A Republican, Edwards first won election to Congress in 1964, one of five Republicans elected to the House from Alabama amid Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater's sweep of the state in that year's presidential election.
During
Early life and education
William Jackson Edwards III was born near
He attended the University of Alabama and became the president of the Student Government Association, then attended the University of Alabama School of Law, graduating in 1954.[3]
Legal career
After becoming a member of the Alabama Bar, Edwards eventually moved to
Congressional career
In November 1964, Edwards defeated
Edwards became one of five Republicans elected to the House from Alabama (the others being
Although most of the 1st's living residents had never been represented by a Republican before, Edwards became very popular in his district, to the point that he would never face a close contest for reelection. He only dropped below 59 percent of the vote once, in 1968. Despite this, Democrats would hold most of the area's seats in the state legislature well into the 1990s.
During his time in Congress, Edwards worked for development of the
From 1973 to 1985, he was co-host of the Gulf Coast Congressional Report, which aired on WKRG-TV in Mobile.[6]
According to the Alabama governor's office, Edwards was a strong supporter of Reagan's military buildup. In 1979, after a devastating hurricane, Alabama's
Later years
Edwards announced he would not run again in 1984, and Vice-President
Edwards continued his civic involvement in Mobile, becoming as chairman of the board of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as serving on various boards of trustees, including of the University of Alabama System, his alma mater (from 1988 til 1999), and became its president after his retirement from the law firm.[3] He was a member on the boards of the Mobile Opera, Mobile Economic Development Council and the Mayor's Waterfront Advisory Committee, among others.[1] From 1987 to 1996, he served on the board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. In 1988, he served as co-chairman of the Secretary of Defense's first commission, known as the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC I).[1] In his final years Edwards, worked in the areas of constitutional reform, education, the environment and economic development in the
Awards
In 1987, Edwards was named Alabama's Volunteer Industrial Developer of the Year. In 1985, he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor.[1] In 1987, he was named Mobilian of the Year.[3] In 2005, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the University of Alabama's College of Communications and Information Sciences.[1]
Death
Edwards died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Fairhope, Alabama, on September 27, 2019, one week after his 91st birthday. Alabama governor Kay Ivey said Edwards "served his state and nation with the highest degree of integrity" and said flags at the Alabama State Capitol would be flown at half-staff in his honor.[1][5]
A statement released by Edwards' family quoted him as having said "My hope is that my great grandchildren will grow up in a country where civility will have been returned to common discourse and to the efforts to solve the country’s problems."[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lane, Keith (September 27, 2019). "Former Alabama congressman Jack Edwards dies, aged 91". WPMI.
- ISBN 978-0-9668380-8-4
- ^ a b c d e f Erickson
- ^ "Our Campaigns - AL District 1 Race - Nov 03, 1970".
- ^ a b c d e f g "Former Alabama congressman Jack Edwards dies at 91". AP NEWS. September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Cason, Mike; Sharp, John (September 27, 2019). "Longtime Alabama Congressman Jack Edwards dies". al. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
External links
- United States Congress. "Jack Edwards (id: E000084)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN