Wilson Mourns the Passing of Gov. James B. Edwards

WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement on the passing of Governor James B. Edwards:

“I am grateful to have had a lifetime of working with Doctor Jim Edwards, and the honor of knowing his wife Anne, daughter Cathy, and son Jim. Doctor Edwards was a tireless stalwart for conservative limited government to expand freedom. In high school, I would visit his dental office for Goldwater materials, in his capacity as Charleston County Republican Chairman. In 1974, he courageously ran and was elected as South Carolina’s first Republican Governor. At that time, I worked with him on the State Development Board, where he recruited Michelin Tire Corporation to produce job opportunities for our citizens. I was honored to serve him in the visionary Reagan Administration as Deputy General Counsel as he achieved success in deregulation as Secretary of Energy.

“His return to Charleston as President of the Medical University of South Carolina resulted in MUSC becoming recognized for world-class universities. South Carolina has lost a southern gentlemen, devoted dad and grandfather, who has made a difference as a key architect for a political revolution.

“Doctor Edwards’ vision of an inclusive Republican Party came to fulfillment this month with the U.S. Senate victory in Louisiana, from his start with no elected statewide Republican officials in the five-state Deep South, and now all statewide officials are Republicans.

“Doctor Edwards will be deeply missed, and Roxanne and my thoughts and prayers are with his family.”