James B. Edwards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Edwards
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| 3rd United States Secretary of Energy | |
| In office January 23, 1981 – November 5, 1982 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Charles Duncan |
| Succeeded by | Donald Hodel |
| 110th Governor of South Carolina | |
| In office January 21, 1975 – January 10, 1979 |
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| Lieutenant | Brantley Harvey |
| Preceded by | John West |
| Succeeded by | Richard Riley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Burrows Edwards
June 24, 1927 Hawthorne, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 2014 (aged 87) Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ann Darlington (1951–2014) |
| Education | College of Charleston (BS) University of Louisville (DMD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Unit | United States Maritime Service |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
James Burrows Edwards (June 24, 1927 – December 26, 2014) was an important American politician from South Carolina. He made history by becoming the first Republican to be elected governor of South Carolina since the 1870s. This was after the American Civil War and the Reconstruction Era. Later, he also served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy for President Ronald Reagan.
Early Life and Education
James Edwards was born in Hawthorne, Florida. During World War II, he served as an officer in the U.S. Maritime Service. After the war, he continued his service in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Edwards went to the College of Charleston, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1950. He was also part of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. In 1955, he received his D.M.D. from the University of Louisville. He then completed a dental internship at the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1960, Edwards returned to Charleston and opened his own dentistry practice. He specialized in oral surgery. Over the years, he held many important positions related to dentistry in his community.
Political Journey
James Edwards began his political career in 1970. He became the chairman of the Republican Party for South Carolina's 1st congressional district. He supported Albert Watson, a Republican who was running for governor.
Edwards first ran for office in 1971. This was a special election for a seat in the 1st congressional district. He lost the election by a small margin. However, his strong effort helped him become well-known.
Because of this, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate as a Republican. He represented Charleston County, which had a majority white population. Two years later, he decided to run for governor in the 1974 governor's race.
Edwards was not expected to win, but he surprised many. He won the Republican primary against General William Westmoreland. Then, he defeated William Jennings Bryan Dorn, a Democratic Congressman, in the main election. This made him the first Republican governor of South Carolina since 1876.
Later Career and Legacy
At that time, governors in South Carolina could not serve two terms in a row. So, James Edwards could not run for reelection in 1978. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Edwards as the United States Secretary of Energy. He held this important national role for two years.
In 1983, Edwards resigned from his federal position. He then became the President of the Medical University of South Carolina. He led the university for 17 years. In 1997, James Edwards was honored by being inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.
Edwards became good friends with John C. West, who was the Democratic governor before him. This friendship grew even though they had been political rivals.
In 1994, a part of the Mark Clark Expressway was renamed the James B. Edwards Bridge in his honor. In 2010, the new dental building and the dental school at MUSC were also renamed the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine.
James Edwards passed away at his home in Mount Pleasant on December 26, 2014. He was 87 years old and died from complications after a stroke.
