Don Edwards
Encyclopedia
William Donlon Edwards (born January 6, 1915) is an American
politician
of the Democratic Party
, formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives
from California
.
, he attended the public schools in the city, graduating from San Jose High Academy
, before earning a B.A.
from Stanford University
in 1936, where he was member of the Stanford golf team. Edwards then attended Stanford Law School
and was admitted to the bar
in 1940. Edwards was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
from 1940 to 1941, when he joined the United States Navy
as a naval intelligence and gunnery officer during World War II
. He was the president of Valley Title Company of Santa Clara County
from 1951 to 1975, and a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1964 and 1968.
Edwards was elected as a Democrat to the 88th
from the 10th Congressional District (later redistricted to the 16th Congressional District) and to the fifteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1963–January 3, 1995). He was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1988 to conduct the impeachment
proceedings against Alcee Hastings
, judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
, and again in 1989 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against Walter Nixon
, judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
. Edwards was the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights for 23 years. He was not a candidate for reelection to the 104th Congress
.
Don Edwards was married to Edith Wilkie Edwards until her death.
in the south end of San Francisco Bay
is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Democratic Party
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...
, formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Biography
Born in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, he attended the public schools in the city, graduating from San Jose High Academy
San Jose High Academy
San José High School is the second oldest public high school in California and was founded in 1863. The school mascot is the Bulldog.In 1985, the school was renamed San Jose Academy as part of the federal magnet schools concept, but on March 25, 2010, it returned to its original name, San José...
, before earning a B.A.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1936, where he was member of the Stanford golf team. Edwards then attended Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
and was admitted to the bar
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
in 1940. Edwards was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
from 1940 to 1941, when he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a naval intelligence and gunnery officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was the president of Valley Title Company of Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
from 1951 to 1975, and a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1964 and 1968.
Edwards was elected as a Democrat to the 88th
88th United States Congress
The Eighty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1963 to January 3, 1965, during the last year of...
from the 10th Congressional District (later redistricted to the 16th Congressional District) and to the fifteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1963–January 3, 1995). He was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1988 to conduct the impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
proceedings against Alcee Hastings
Alcee Hastings
Alcee Lamar Hastings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
, and again in 1989 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against Walter Nixon
Walter Nixon
Walter Louis Nixon, Jr. is a former United States federal judge who was impeached by the House of Representatives and removed from office by the Senate....
, judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi is a federal court in the Fifth Circuit with facilities in Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg, and Jackson....
. Edwards was the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights for 23 years. He was not a candidate for reelection to the 104th Congress
104th United States Congress
The One Hundred Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 1997, during the third and...
.
Don Edwards was married to Edith Wilkie Edwards until her death.
Honor
The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife RefugeDon Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a US National Wildlife Refuge located in the southern part of San Francisco Bay, California. The Refuge headquarters and visitor center is located in the Baylands district of Fremont, next to Coyote Hills Regional Park, in Alameda County. ...
in the south end of San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
is named in his honor.