James B. Edwards
Encyclopedia
James Burrows Edwards is a politician and administrator from South Carolina
. He was the first Republican to be elected the Governor of South Carolina
since Reconstruction.
, and was an officer in the U.S. Maritime Service
during World War II. He continued his service in the U.S. Naval Reserve
after the war. Edwards received a bachelors degree in 1950 at the College of Charleston
where he was a brother of Pi Kappa Phi
fraternity
. He received a D.M.D. in 1955 from the University of Louisville
, and did some post-graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania
. Returning to Charleston
, Edwards established a dentistry practice in 1960 that specialized in oral surgery
. Consequently, he held a variety of positions associated with dentistry in the community.
. Although he'd never run for office before, he narrowly lost to one of Rivers' staffers, Mendel Jackson Davis
, in the first truly competitive race in the district in memory.
However, Edwards gained enough name recognition from his strong showing in the special election that he was elected to the South Carolina Senate
as a Republican from Charleston County. Two years later, he entered the governor's race
as a long-shot candidate. However, Edwards upset General William Westmoreland
in the Republican primary, and then defeated Democratic
Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn
in the general election, thus becoming the first Republican governor of the state since Daniel Henry Chamberlain
in 1876. Edwards was one of the few bright spots in what was otherwise a very bad year for Republicans due to Watergate (and revulsion against the Vietnam War
, a factor that may well have contributed to the defeat of Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces during the late 1960s).
appointed Governor Edwards to be the Secretary of Energy
in 1981. He resigned a year later to serve as the President of the Medical University of South Carolina
, a post he held for seventeen years. In 1997, Edwards was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame for his contributions as governor. Recently, Governor Edwards endorsed Governor Mitt Romney
(R-Massachusetts
) for president.
In 2010 the new MUSC dental building and the dental school was re-named in his honor as the "James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine".
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He was the first Republican to be elected the Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
since Reconstruction.
Early life and career
Edwards was born in Hawthorne, FloridaHawthorne, Florida
Hawthorne is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,417 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hawthorne is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of...
, and was an officer in the U.S. Maritime Service
United States Maritime Service
The United States Maritime Service, abbreviated as USMS, was established in 1938 under the provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. The mission of the organization is to train people to become officers and crewmembers on merchant ships that form the United States Merchant Marine...
during World War II. He continued his service in the U.S. Naval Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
after the war. Edwards received a bachelors degree in 1950 at the College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
where he was a brother of Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Kappa Phi is an American social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
. He received a D.M.D. in 1955 from the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, and did some post-graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. Returning to Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, Edwards established a dentistry practice in 1960 that specialized in oral surgery
Oral Surgery
Oral Surgery is a recognized international specialty in dentistry. It includes the diagnosis, surgical and related treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws and neck.It involves,...
. Consequently, he held a variety of positions associated with dentistry in the community.
Political career
Dr. Edwards began his political career when he entered a special election for , based in Charleston, caused by the death of longtime incumbent L. Mendel RiversL. Mendel Rivers
Lucius Mendel Rivers was a Democratic U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the Charleston based 1st congressional district for nearly thirty years...
. Although he'd never run for office before, he narrowly lost to one of Rivers' staffers, Mendel Jackson Davis
Mendel Jackson Davis
Mendel Jackson Davis was a lawyer and a United States Representative from South Carolina.-Early life and career:Davis was born in the city of North Charleston to Felix Charles Davis and Elizabeth Jackson Davis...
, in the first truly competitive race in the district in memory.
However, Edwards gained enough name recognition from his strong showing in the special election that he was elected to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
as a Republican from Charleston County. Two years later, he entered the governor's race
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1974
The 1974 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. James B. Edwards defeated W.J. Bryan Dorn and became the first Republican since Daniel Henry Chamberlain in 1874 to win a gubernatorial election in South Carolina...
as a long-shot candidate. However, Edwards upset General William Westmoreland
William Westmoreland
William Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army General, who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak , during the Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army. He later served as...
in the Republican primary, and then defeated Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn
William Jennings Bryan Dorn
William Jennings Bryan Dorn was a United States politician from South Carolina who represented the state in the United States House of Representatives from 1947 to 1949 and from 1951 to 1975 as a Democrat....
in the general election, thus becoming the first Republican governor of the state since Daniel Henry Chamberlain
Daniel Henry Chamberlain
Daniel Henry Chamberlain was a planter, lawyer, author and the 76th Governor of South Carolina from 1874 until 1877....
in 1876. Edwards was one of the few bright spots in what was otherwise a very bad year for Republicans due to Watergate (and revulsion against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, a factor that may well have contributed to the defeat of Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces during the late 1960s).
Later career
After his term expired, President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed Governor Edwards to be the Secretary of Energy
United States Secretary of Energy
The United States Secretary of Energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fifteenth in the presidential line of succession. The position was formed on October 1, 1977 with the creation of the Department of Energy when President Jimmy...
in 1981. He resigned a year later to serve as the President of the Medical University of South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina opened in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 as a small private college for the training of physicians. It is one of the oldest continually operating school of medicine in the United States and the oldest in the Deep South...
, a post he held for seventeen years. In 1997, Edwards was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame for his contributions as governor. Recently, Governor Edwards endorsed Governor Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
(R-Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
) for president.
In 2010 the new MUSC dental building and the dental school was re-named in his honor as the "James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine".