Wikipedia

Donald E. Edwards

Donald E. Edwards(June 15, 1937 – August 16, 2018) was an American military officer. He was most notable for his service asadjutant generalof theState of Vermontfrom 1981 to 1997. The adjutant general is the senior uniformed officer in the state and responsible for the organization, training and equipping of nearly 4,000 members of the Vermont Army and Air National Guard. His position as Adjutant General also included appointment as Inspector General and Quartermaster General, and head of the State Military Department, including the Veterans Affairs office.

Donald E. Edwards
Edwards during his tenure as adjutant general of Vermont
Born(1937-06-15)June 15, 1937
Bellows Falls, Vermont,U.S.
DiedAugust 16, 2018(2018-08-16)(aged 81)
South Bristol, Maine,U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/ branchUnited States Army
Years of service1959–1997
RankMajor General
UnitUnited States ArmyArmor Branch
U.S. Army Transportation Corps
Commands413th Supply and Service Battalion
Vermont National Guard
Battles / warsVietnam War
AwardsLegion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Other workMember,Vermont House of Representatives
Staff assistant, U.S. Rep.Bernie Sanders

Early life and start of military career

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Donald Everett Edwards was born inBellows Falls, Vermont,on June 15, 1937, the son of attorney Ralph Everett Edwards and Anne Jane (Edmunds) Edwards.[1]He attended school inSaxtons River, Vermontand graduated fromVermont Academyin 1955.[2]He began his military career as asecond lieutenantin theUnited States ArmyArmor Branchin 1959 after graduation fromNorwich Universityand completion of theReserve Officer Training Corpsprogram. He later became qualified as aTransportation officer,and served with the regular Army until 1971, with assignments including three years inWest Germany,two inVietnam(1965–66, 1968–69) during theVietnam War,and two inEngland(1969–71) as part of a professional exchange program with theBritish Army.[3]

Edwards served in theArmy Reservefrom 1971 until his appointment by theVermont General Assemblyas Adjutant General of theVermont National Guardin 1981, and his Reserve service included command of a battalion.[4][5]

Civilian career

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Between leaving active duty in 1971 and being appointed Adjutant General in 1981, Edwards was employed as a dealer in fine arts and antiques and an appraiser of real property, antiques and household effects.[6]He also served as a member ofGrafton, Vermont’sSchool Board and Planning Commission as well as theWindhamRegional Planning Commission. From 1975 to 1981 he was aDemocraticmember of theVermont House of Representatives.[7]

Education

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Edwards was also a graduate of the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government atHarvard University'sJohn F. Kennedy School of Government.[8]

Assignments

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Awards and decorations

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Effective dates of promotion

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Military retirement

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In 1997 Edwards was defeated for reappointment as adjutant general, losing the legislature's election toMartha Rainville.[11](In Vermont, the adjutant general is elected for a two-year term by a secret ballot of the Vermont General Assembly.)[12]Rainville became the first woman to ever be appointed as a state adjutant general.[13][14]Edwards retired from the military upon Rainville assuming the adjutant general's duties.

Later career

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After his military retirement General Edwards served on the staff ofU.S. RepresentativeBernie Sandersfor two years.[15]Later he was an on-air commentator forFox News[16]and the Executive Vice President of anInformation Technologycompany.[17]

Retirement

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In retirement Edwards continued to comment on public affairs in magazine articles and other media.[18]He was a member of the National Veterans Steering Committee duringJohn F. Kerry's2004 presidential campaign.[19]Edwards resided inSouth Bristol, MaineandAshburn, Virginia.[20][21]

Other achievements

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Edwards served as president of the Adjutants General Association of the United States and was a vice president of theNational Guard Association of the United States.[22]

Death and burial

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Edwards died in South Bristol, Maine on August 16, 2018.[23]He was buried at Old Oak Cemetery in South Bristol.

Family

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In 1960, Edwards married Mary Baldasaro; they divorced in June 1965.[24]Later that month, Edwards married Julie Ellen Schmid, a native of Iowa.[25]In 1982, Edwards married Elizabeth M. Deppman ofMiddlebury, Vermont.[26]They divorced in 1991.[27]In 1992, Edwards married Jennifer Suzanne Wool ofEssex Junction, Vermont.[28]In 2008, he married Susan Marie Bean inLoudoun, Virginia.[29]

Edwards was the father of two sons, William E. and Edmund E. Edwards.[30]In addition to them, he was survived by his wife Sue, and his step-children Elijah, Josiah, Ariadne, and Nathaniel.[30]

References

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  1. ^Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008, entry for Donald Everett Edwards, accessed August 6, 2012
  2. ^Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual.Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. 1995. p. 367.
  3. ^Davis, Neil (March 5, 1981)."New Adjutant General Has Attained Goal".Burlington Free Press.Burlington, VT. p. 13 – viaNewspapers.com.
  4. ^Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1977, pages 103 to 104
  5. ^Associated Press, Rep. Edwards Elected State Adjutant General, North Adams Transcript, February 20, 1981
  6. ^Bennington Banner, The Guide Moves to new Location, February 3, 1973
  7. ^Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1975, page 657
  8. ^Vermont Secretary of State,Legislative Directory,1995, page 367
  9. ^Vermont National Guard, Biographical sketch, Donald E. Edwards, undated, accessed August 6, 2012
  10. ^Vermont National Guard, Biographical sketch
  11. ^Vermont General Assembly,Journal of Proceedings,February 20, 1997
  12. ^Vermont Emergency Management Agency,Annex O, Vermont Emergency Management Plan[permanent dead link‍],2011, page 1
  13. ^Deseret News,Guard Commander,February 21, 1997
  14. ^Boston Globe,Vt. Guard is First Headed by Woman,March 3, 1997
  15. ^Norman Runnion,Dubie Brothers Are a Hit At StatehouseArchived2012-07-28 at theWayback Machine,Randolph Herald, March 2, 2006
  16. ^Fox News Channel,Topics and Guests for Monday, July 28,July 28, 2003
  17. ^Walker Research,SRA International profile, Donald Edwards,2009
  18. ^Progressive Policy Institute,Cheney's Terrorists,by Donald Edwards, December 30, 2009
  19. ^Kerry-Edwards 2004,Press release, 148 Military Brass and Veteran Luminaries Endorse John Kerry for Commander-in-Chief,September 15, 2004
  20. ^Progressive Policy Institute,Author's profile, Donald EdwardsArchived2014-06-09 at theWayback Machine,accessed August 6, 2012
  21. ^Tom Porter,War Veterans Stump for Climate Change BillArchivedMarch 4, 2016, at theWayback Machine,Maine Public Broadcasting Network, October 8, 2009
  22. ^SRA, Inc.,Press release, Donald Edwards Joins SRA,January 7, 2003
  23. ^"Obituary, Donald E. Edwards".Burlington Free Press.Burlington, VT. August 23, 2018.
  24. ^"Vermont Divorce Index 1925-2003, Entry for Donald Everett Edwards and Mary Baldasaro".Ancestry.com.Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. June 15, 1965.RetrievedAugust 23,2018.
  25. ^"Virginia Marriage Records 1936-2014, Entry for Donald Everett Edwards and Julie Ellen Schmid".Ancestry.com.Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. June 26, 1965.RetrievedAugust 23,2018.
  26. ^"Vermont Marriage Records 1909-2008, Entry for Donald Everett Edwards and Elizabeth M. Deppman".Ancestry.com.Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. April 18, 1982.RetrievedAugust 23,2018.
  27. ^"Vermont Divorce Index 1925-2003, Entry for Donald Everett Edwards and Elizabeth M. Edwards".Ancestry.com.Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. December 30, 1991.RetrievedAugust 23,2018.
  28. ^"Vermont Marriage Records 1909-2008, Entry for Donald Everett Edwards and Jennifer Suzanne Wool".Ancestry.com.Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. March 31, 1992.RetrievedAugust 23,2018.
  29. ^"Virginia Marriage Records 1936-2014, Entry for Donald Everett Edwards and Susan Marie Bean".Ancestry.com.Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. March 31, 2008.RetrievedAugust 23,2018.
  30. ^ab"Obituary, Donald E. Edwards".
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Military offices
Preceded by Vermont Adjutant General
1981–1997 		Succeeded by
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