A HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING Ralph donald edwards, former DIRECTOR of prisons for the North Carolina department of correction.
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards was born on September 2, 1925, in Marshville, North Carolina, to Roland and Katie Edwards; and
Whereas, after serving in the United States Army Air Corps as a pilot trainee, Ralph Donald Edwards earned a bachelor's degree in Agronomy from North Carolina State University; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards was a dedicated career State employee, serving 32 years under nine governors; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards spent several years as a farm manager, working in 1949 for the State School for the Blind and Deaf and in 1951 for the Caledonia Prison farm; and
Whereas, in 1957, Ralph Donald Edwards became the Manager of Farms and Food Processing for the North Carolina Department of Correction and in 1961 was named the State's Director of Prison Enterprises; and
Whereas, between 1969 and 1973, Ralph Donald Edwards served for a period of time as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Correction and then as Secretary of the Department; and
Whereas, in 1973, Ralph Donald Edwards was named the Director of Prisons and served in that position until 1982; and
Whereas, in recognition of his service to the State of North Carolina, Ralph Donald Edwards was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2009; and
Whereas, after his retirement from the State, Ralph Donald Edwards became a cattle producer, working closely with North Carolina State University to test and develop the first stand of Tifton 44 Bermudagrass in North Carolina; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards became the leading certified producer and planter of Tifton 44 Bermudagrass in several states; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards was also the first cattle breeder to import the South Devon breed of cattle into North Carolina; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards served for 10 years on the National Board for the North American South Devon Association, including two years as the Board's president; and
Whereas, during his time on the Board, Ralph Donald Edwards worked closely with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to help make sure that quality beef was produced in the State; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards served his community as a member of several organizations, including the Franklinton Planning Board and the Franklin County Planning Board; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards died on June 19, 2014, at the age of 88; and
Whereas, Ralph Donald Edwards leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Jenny McGhee Edwards; his children, Wanda Dare Edwards and Susan Edwards Meisenhelder; his stepchildren, Brandon Hall and Jason Hall; his grandchildren, Patrick Piche, Adrienne Piche, Gregory Meisenhelder, Sgt. Albert Meisenhelder, and Candace Meisenhelder; his stepgrandchildren, Dylan Hall and Logan Hall; and his great grandchild, Max Meisenhelder; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of Ralph Donald Edwards and expresses its appreciation for his dedicated service to the State of North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Ralph Donald Edwards.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Ralph Donald Edwards.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.