Leon W. Edwards

Leon Wyman Edwards passed away on January 16, at the age of 89. Leon was born on May 24, 1931 in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Mountain Brook Elementary and graduated from Ramsay High School where he made many lifetime friends. As an avid Boy Scout, Leon earned the rank of Eagle Scout. In high school, he earned 4 letters in basketball, track, tennis and golf. He was a member of the Sigma fraternity and remained an active alumna until his death. Leon attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia for a year where he joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He then transferred to the University of Alabama where he took ROTC and upon graduation ranked as a 2nd Lieutenant. Leon graduated in 1953 with a BA in Business Administration and was a lifetime supporter of the University of Alabama especially their football program. Following college, Leon served 2 years in the United States Air Force stationed in Kansas from 1954- 1956 and was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant. Returning to Birmingham, Leon began his business career at Edwards Chevrolet which was established in 1916 by his father, William Sterling Edwards. Leon was a successful businessman, philanthropist, and contributor to the automobile industry through many leadership roles. Leon served as President of the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association three times. He was also elected to serve on the Chevrolet National Dealer Council three different times. He served for 8 years on the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Board of Directors and was President of NADA in 1995.

In 2001, Leon received The Alabama Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. Also, in 2006, Leon was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association while the Jefferson County Commission declared that January 19, 2006 shall be “Leon W. Edwards Day”!

Leon was a Chevrolet Dealer for 58 years and during that time, Leon was very proud and honored to mentor and support several employees who became Dealers of many successful dealerships in Alabama and Florida.

The Edwards’ Family was very involved in Regions Bank where Leon served on the Bank Board of Directors for many years. Leon was President of Birmingham Business Bureau and a member of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Board, Birmingham Heart Fund Drive, Monday Morning Quarterback Club, The Redstone Club and The Country Club of Birmingham. He was King of the Beaux Arts Ball and President of the German Club.

During Leon’s lifetime he enjoyed various outdoor sports including hunting and fishing with his family and many lifelong friends. Leon’s real passion was deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. In the 2001 Bay Point Billfish Tournament Leon’s boat, The Lucky II, caught a 1046-pound blue marlin that continues to hold the Florida State record. In 2015, Leon was honored as the first recipient of the Gulf Coast Legends angler, awarded for his contributions in promoting the sport of deep-sea fishing. Leon continued to fish in 4 tournaments a year until the age of 86! The family would like to thank his care givers Butch, James, Willie and Kristi for their compassionate, kind and loving attention.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents, William Sterling Edwards and Elizabeth Alabama Wyman Edwards; his son, Sterling William Edwards; his brother, William Sterling Edwards; his sister, Alabama Edwards Williams.

He is survived by his loving companion, Ann Neighbors and his son, Leon (Lee) W. Edwards Jr. (Jenny) and his daughter Caroline Edwards Anderson; his grandchildren, Baylee Edwards, Sterling Edwards Jr., Ellen Coleman Edwards, Lee Edwards III, CeCe Sims, Catherine Sims, and Libby Sims and his sister, Elizabeth Edwards Pless.

There will be a private family only burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

UAB Alzheimer’s Disease Center

Sparks Center SC 640

1720 7th Avenue South

Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0017

OR

UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center

1720 2nd Avenue South

WTI 202

Birmingham, Alabama 35294-3300

Phone: (205)934-0282

Or

Crimson Tide Foundation

“in Honor of Leon Edwards”

Box 870343

Tuscaloosa, Al 35487-0343

Phone (205)348-9727