R.C. Edwards: 1914-2008
Share your memories of Dr. Edwards and your thoughts about his legacy and impact on Clemson University. Send your comments using this form.
Your thoughts and memories of Dr. Edwards
When I attended Clemson from 1981 to 1986, the academic scholarship which was used to support me (R.C. Edwards Scholarship) was named after Dr. Edwards. As a R.C. Edwards Scholar, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Edwards. To this day, Dr. Edwards was one of the nicest individuals I'd ever met. He had a very warm personality and he encouraged me and the other scholars to always do our best at whatever we do. I will always be grateful for the role that the R.C. Edwards Scholarship played in helping to shape my subsequent academic and professional successes. Dr. Edwards will be missed by all of us in the Clemson family.
Eric Brown, Class of '86
Thank you R.C. Edwards for helping to make Clemson such a special place. We'll miss you.
Mike McCombs
President Edwards was my President while I was here at Clemson as an undergraduate. I will never forget his kindness to me, his willingness to help and his unabashed love for this place we call Clemson. We all know that when asked about what makes Clemson special, we smile and try to answer but cannot find words to explain it. President Edwards is foremostly responsible for that which we call the Clemson family. I too shed a tear when I learned of his passing but at the same time I cherished the warm memories of my President. May the Lord bless the Edwards family and one of my fondest memory will be his waving to the bus as it pulled away to take our Tigers to play.
Mike McLeod
My husband Skip went to Clemson during the time that Dr. Edwards was president. I remember Dr. Edwards when he lived in Abbeville, S.C. During the time my husband was in school,I worked in the bursar's office. Dr. Edwards used to come in the bank to cash a check. I cashed his check many times and he was always very nice and friendly. I had a lot of respect for him. He seemed to have a great love for Clemson. My condolences to the family.
Evelyn W. Townsend
Dr. Edwards was President during my years at Clemson. I really looked up to him. On one occasion I was walking up the sidewalk in front of Holtzendorff toward Tillman Hall and I felt an arm go around my shoulder. My first thought was "What the heck?" Then I looked to my left and it was Dr. Edwards asking me how things were going. He was sincere and truly wanted to know. I will always remember this moment!
Curt Lackey
Class of 1964
Class of 1964
Being fortunate enough to be a member of Tiger Band from 1974 through 1980, I was afforded the opportunity to share many events attended by Dr. and Mrs. Edwards. My first recollection of them was at the January 1975 gubernatorial inauguration in Columbia when they were in attendence as was all of Tiger Band. The many times that Tiger Band shared the stage in the Amphitheatre with R.C. during pep rallies are among my most cherished memories of the late president.
Possibly one of Dr. Edwards' finest hours that I was witness to came in the fall of 1977 when the Tigers were slated to play the eventual national champs, Notre Dame, in Death Valley. The Irish coach, whom I shall not name here, had antagonized the Clemson fans by writing a whiny letter to the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference that week expressing "concern" about Clemson's vaunted crowd noise in Death Valley. He wanted it muzzled so that the "mighty Irish" play-calling wouldn't be impeded... As you might well guess, this incensed the Tiger Nation, and the mood at the Friday night pep rally was to relocate it to the parking lot at the Holiday Inn to give the Notre Dame team a foretaste of what they would get on Saturday.
R.C. appeared before the fired-up crowd in the Amphitheatre and made a calm, reasoned plea that we leave the visiting team alone. "Let them get a proper night's rest, and then we will have a fair game tomorrow with no Irish recourse to blaming of a late night disruption for the outcome," was R.C.'s message. At his request, we relented, and even gave the Irish the first and only "silent treatment" before the game, playing them to a close defeat for the Tigers in the fourth quarter. Dr. Edwards eminent sense of fair play made all the difference in how that weekend evolved.
A big doff and wave of the Tiger hat to the late, great Robert Cook Edwards!
Possibly one of Dr. Edwards' finest hours that I was witness to came in the fall of 1977 when the Tigers were slated to play the eventual national champs, Notre Dame, in Death Valley. The Irish coach, whom I shall not name here, had antagonized the Clemson fans by writing a whiny letter to the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference that week expressing "concern" about Clemson's vaunted crowd noise in Death Valley. He wanted it muzzled so that the "mighty Irish" play-calling wouldn't be impeded... As you might well guess, this incensed the Tiger Nation, and the mood at the Friday night pep rally was to relocate it to the parking lot at the Holiday Inn to give the Notre Dame team a foretaste of what they would get on Saturday.
R.C. appeared before the fired-up crowd in the Amphitheatre and made a calm, reasoned plea that we leave the visiting team alone. "Let them get a proper night's rest, and then we will have a fair game tomorrow with no Irish recourse to blaming of a late night disruption for the outcome," was R.C.'s message. At his request, we relented, and even gave the Irish the first and only "silent treatment" before the game, playing them to a close defeat for the Tigers in the fourth quarter. Dr. Edwards eminent sense of fair play made all the difference in how that weekend evolved.
A big doff and wave of the Tiger hat to the late, great Robert Cook Edwards!
C. Mark Sublette
Dr. Edwards was a professional when the situation called for him to be and one of the Clemson family at other times. He was a kind and gentle man, never afraid to look you in the eye and say "Good Morning" or "How are you today?" We respected Dr. Edwards and vice versa. We have missed him ever since he retired and those shoes are still trying to be filled. Dean Kenneth Vickery has been waiting for someone to chat about Clemson University, our precious new football coach and old times. These two gentlemen were great role models for all men and women on this campus. I am so glad that I knew him and Nancy, I know you are so very proud of the legacy your Dad leaves behind. Goodbye Dr. Edwards and thank you for all you did for Clemson University.
Mary Jo Craig
When I heard of his death, I was sad, but since his lovely wife, Louis Odom Edwards died in July, I knew President Edwards would not be too far behind — he doted on her. I did a CD of the history of the School of Nursing back in 2004 and was able to interview President Edwards — he loved the School of Nursing. I feel so blessed to have that film recoded for posterity. I know that heaven now is a much happier place, and I bet we will see more orange sunsets in the future. I feel honored to work in Edwards Hall.
Linda Howe
Uncle Bob was my great uncle; my father, Dr. Joe Godfrey is the son of Ruby Edwards Godfrey, Uncle Bob's sister. I attended Clemson between 84-87 to obtain my MS in Computer Science. I am very saddened that neither of my parents were able to attend the ceremony. They are instead here in Tempe, Arizona, to help me with a battle with leukemia. They have made enormous sacrifices this entire year, but should rather have been there to attend football and baseball games, Aunt Louise's funeral, and my maternal grandmother's 101st birthday tomorrow, Dec. 9. I have fond memories of my time at Clemson, and just wish I could have been there today for the ceremony. It was one he truly deserved
Beth Godfrey
I remember a Pep Rally in the 70's when Dr. and Mrs. Edwards came to lead the cheers. It was great fun, and the Edwards loved the chant " RC, MoonPie." They reveled in the excitement of the young people there in the Amphitheater that night. Dr. Edwards was my President. Thank you for caring about us all.
Kathy Clark, '75,'96, '01
Dr. Edwards was quite a man, as we all know. My older brother, Phil Rogers, sister Virgnia, and I all received our diplomas from Dr. Edwards. I started working for Clemson in 1975, so I had the pleasure of working while Dr. Edwards was the president. He and Mrs. Edwards will be missed. Nobody will ever be able to match his love for Clemson and Clemson athletics! I just know there are Tiger Paws painted on those golden streets in heaven! The Edwards will be missed, but what a legacy they both left. Thanks to you both.
Almeda Rogers Jacks
Almeda Rogers Jacks
Reading through these thoughts and memories, it's easy to see that Dr. and Mrs. Edwards were extraordinary people. They touched people in a personally, in a way that you wouldn't expect from community leaders. And they brought integrity to everything they did. They managed to be both realists and idealists - striving for excellence, dealing with challenges practically, and enjoying the trip along the way. That's the kind of leadership that's easy to follow. They loved each other deeply, that was obvious to anyone, and they loved life. Their example is one we can all embrace.
Janet Robertson McIlvaine