SC Governors – James Burrows Edwards, 1975-1979

Biographical Overview

• Born: June 24, 1927 in Hawthorne, FL
  
• Died:
• Buried:
• Religion: Methodist
  
• Political Party: Republican
  

Education

• College of Charleston - B.S. 1950
  
• University of Louisville, School of Dentistry - Louisville, KY, D.M.D. 1955
  
• University of Pennsylvania, post-graduate studies - 1957-1958
  

Occupations

• Ship's Officer, US Maritime Service - 1944-1947
  
• Lieutenant Commander, US Naval Reserve - 1955-1957
  
• Dentist and Oral Surgeon
• President of the Medical University of South Carolina - 1982
  

Major Events and Accomplishments, 1975–1979

• November 5, 1974 – Governor Edwards was the first Republican to be elected governor of South Carolina since the end of Reconstruction
  
• October 13, 1975 – The Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum was dedicated
  
• May 1977 – The 1st annual Spoleto Festival was held in Charleston
  
• June 8, 1977 – Governor Edwards signed legislation reinstating the death penalty
  
• June 10, 1977 – The General Assembly passed the Education Finance Act, redistributing state education funds to benefit poor school districts
  
• October 22, 1977 – England's Prince Charles visited Charleston
  

Other Government Positions

• South Carolina Senate, 1972-1975
  
• Secretary of the US Department of Energy, 1981-1982
  

Other Accomplishments, Honors, Distinctions

• 1958-1960 – Edwards completed his two year residency in oral surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI
  

Web Resources

• Biographical information - Miller Center of Public Affairs
  
• Listing of records available at SC Archives and History Center

Election Results