Emmet Edwards:
CLASS OF 1950
Humes High SchoolClass of 1950
Memphis, TN
Emmet's Story
Dropped out of HS after 10th grade in 1948. Married Ruth O. Brister (also of Humes). Joined Army in 1949, GED for HS diploma. Volunteered for Paratroopers. Went to Fort Campbell, Ky with 11th Abn Div., Grade of Sgt. by 1952, Daughter Wendy born April 52, attained Reserve Commission, 2nd Lt., Oct 52, Transferred to 82nd Abn Div. Attained Senior Parachutist rating. Korean War ended, requested early release from Active Duty. Attended Ole Miss 1955 to 1957 on G.I. Bill, BBA in Accounting, Applied for Regular Army Commission. Assigned to 101st Abn Div, Fort Campbell, Ky. Awarded Master Parachutist Rating. Reassigned to Germany in 1959 as Class B Agent at Army Security Agency Post. Daughter Erica Born Mar '60. Daughter Karen Born Jan '62. Promoted to Capt. transferred to Nor Area Cmd as Accountant 1953. Reassigned to Ft. Ben Harrison in Indianapolis for advanced Finanace Officer training 1964. Reassigned to Washington, DC as Comptroller at Ft. McNair. Erica died of Lukemia. Promoted to Major in '65. Son Emmet III born Reassigned to 173rd Abn. Bde in Vietnam in '67. During year in Vietnam, Awarded Legion of Merit, Bronze Star w/3 OLC, Air Medal, and Vietnamese Cross of Galantry. Reassigned to Carlisle Barracks, Army War College as Comptroller in '68. dPromoted to Lt. Col. Reassigned to Syracuse U. as MBA student in Comptrollership program.in '69. On completion of MBA program, reassigned to Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth as student in 1970. Son killed in on post traffic accident 1971. Reassigned to Ft Harrison as Director of Concepts and Studies (R&D) for Army Admin Services. Awarded Meritorious Service Medal. Reassigned to Washington in '73 to Fort Myer. Retired 1 Jan '74. Moved to Starkville, Miss to enter Doctoral program in Business. Finished w/DBA in '76 and moved to Evansville, Indiana area as assistant professor in division of business at a new college; Ind State Univ, Evansville (ISUE) Five Years later when we had grown large enough to stand on our own, established as independent Univ of Southern Indiana. After 17 years at USI, serving as associate Dean and Dean, I retired in 1993. Our oldest...Expand for more
daughter, Wendy died of a perforated ulcer. My wife of 64 years, Ruth (nee Brister) died last december (2011) from kidney failure at age 80. Six months ago, I underwent open heart surgery for a dual bypass and a new aortic valve and pacemaker. I'm doing cardiac rehab 3 days a week and making very good progress. Daughters Karen and Cheryl are here in Mount vernon and doing well. Cheryl is owner/operator of a beauty salon on main st. here in Mt Vernon. Karen completed here degree in Marketing at USI last year and has been my principal caregiver while I recover from surgery. Now that I'm well enough to care for my self I think probably she'll be on the job market again or will return to USI's MBA program. I have 7 grandchildren--all in the area--all boys except one grandaughter, Rachel. Shawn (Wendy's oldest) has just signed up for a program leading to a degree in counseling for a mid-life career change. Chad (Wendy's youngest) is in his last two classes for an associate degree and certification as a chef in cullinary arts. Karen's two are Rachel, who leaves here for Colorado to continue her fine arts degree program at a highly rated private art school and Jonathan who finished High Sch last year and is an entering freshman at USI in Marketing and Sports Management. Cheryl's three boys are Ranger, a junior at Ind. Univ. majoring in Pysch. and Pre-Law. James is a computer tech. student at Ivy Tech and is contemplating joining the National Guard. and, Tyler, at eight years old is pursuing a dual role of actor and 3rd grader is appearing in a soon to be released movie, "Margerin Wars." (He's the kid with the orange-red hair).
In 1947, as center on Humes Junior High Basketball team, We ended the year with only 1 loss (to Belleview, by 1 point). We went to state playoffs and progressed to championship round against Belleview (which had only 1 loss, to us by one point.) With two seconds left, Humes leading by one point, Belleview gets ball out at mid-court. Inbounded to their center (Joe Highboy) who tried desperation shot at 3/4 of court. I jumped as high as I could, with all my might swung at ball, missed it, and knoched Highboy down.
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