COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (May 26, 2004) — For the Edwards family of Jamestown, Tenn., perseverance has blossomed into a generosity that supports higher education and helps their employees earn college degrees.

Carl and Ginny Edwards, along with their son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Mary Alice Edwards, received the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy recently after being nominated by Tennessee Tech University. Beyond their significant monetary contributions, the family has been a catalyst for encouraging others to support and attend TTU.

“The Edwards appreciate the value of higher education and the effect it can have on an individual, a family, a business and a community,” said TTU President Bob Bell.

Together the Edwards ran the business and raised two sons, Rick and Scott, who grew up knowing college educations and the family business were in their futures. After Rick graduated in 1981 with an industrial engineering degree from TTU, he assumed the role of vice president of operations at Micro Metals.

Scott, a 1987 TTU business management graduate, took over as sales manager, and his wife, Mary Alice, a 1989 TTU accounting graduate, also joined the company.
During this time of growth and success, an automobile accident took Rick’s life and seriously injured Carl. Just one year later, Carl faced and survived stomach cancer.

Meanwhile, the family turned to Scott to run the company. Today, as CEO, he oversees a company known worldwide for its organizational efficiency.

“I wasn’t totally prepared to take on the role, but credit our success to a deep faith in God, a work ethic derived from my parents and grandparents, and Tennessee Tech,” said Scott.

As individuals and through the company, the Edwards support many good causes in their community, but their special focus traditionally has been on Tennessee Tech.

Carl and Ginny began by endowing a scholarship in Rick’s memory through TTU’s College of Engineering. Scott established a College of Business Administration endowment and honored his mother, a nurse, with the Virginia Edwards Nursing Scholarship. In his parents name he also provided a significant gift to furnish a physiology lab. His funding of a state-of-the-art education classroom honors his brother and sister-in-law, Sue, a teacher.

Scott also serves on TTU’s College of Business Administration Foundation and the Board of Advisors of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Extended Education.
Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Philanthropy are given annually to individuals or organizations who give generously of their resources and make outstanding volunteer efforts in raising money for a TBR institution. TBR Chancellor Charles Manning presented the award to the Edwards family during a ceremony at TTU.

--Karen Lykins
This information posted 26 May 2004