[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2298-2299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




PAYING TRIBUTE TO DR. JAMES L. EDWARDS FOR HIS 25 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING 
              SERVICE AS PRESIDENT OF ANDERSON UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 12, 2015

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. James 
L. Edwards on the occasion of his retirement. For 25 years Dr. Edwards 
has served as President of Anderson University. He is the longest 
serving president of a university in Indiana's history and has 
contributed so much to the community. The people of the Fifth 
Congressional District of Indiana are forever grateful for Dr. Edwards' 
contributions and commitment to Anderson University and the Hoosier 
community.
  In 1990, Dr. Edwards became the fourth President of Anderson 
University since its establishment in 1917. He took office July 1, 
1990, however his relationship with the school goes back decades before 
that. Dr. Edwards is a graduate of Anderson University, receiving his 
bachelor's degree from the school and later his master's degree from 
the Anderson University School of Theology. Prior to his tenure as 
President he held two positions with Anderson University, first as 
Director of Student Recruitment (1966-1970) and later as Director of 
Church and Alumni Relations (1972-1975).
  Growing up as the son of a minister in Ohio, Dr. Edwards has a long 
history with the church. His expertise and contributions to the church 
are not limited to his time with Anderson University. After completing 
his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Anderson University, he 
went on to receive his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy and 
Leadership at the Ohio State University. As an ordained minister he has 
more than 30 years of experience, most notably as Senior Pastor of the 
Meadow Park Church in Columbus, Ohio as well as other churches 
throughout Indiana and Michigan. He also served at the national level 
as President and CEO of Warner Press, a publishing house for the Church 
of God, where he directed the work of the largest religious publisher 
in Indiana.
  During his tenure as President he presided over the Anderson School 
of Theology, a graduate program for the training of ministers, the same 
program from which he received his master's degree. He recognized the 
importance of resource development and led campaigns that raised more 
than $205 million for the school, which included the construction of 
several campus buildings. Dr. Edwards was not just involved locally, 
but also at state and national levels. At the state level, he served as 
chair of the board for Independent Colleges of Indiana and was a member 
of the Steering Committee of the Indiana Leadership Prayer Breakfast. 
He served at the national level on the Board of Directors of the 
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities as well as director of 
the board of the National Association of Independent Colleges and 
Universities.
  Dr. Edwards' leadership was most evident at home. He showed extensive 
commitment to

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community at the local level in Anderson, Indiana. He has served on the 
board of directors for many groups, including the Madison County 
Community Foundation, the Corporation for Economic Development of 
Madison County, First Merchants Bank of Central Indiana, St. Vincent 
Anderson Regional Hospital, Citizens Banking Company, and the United 
Way. Additionally, he served on the Ministries Council of the Church of 
God and is a member of the Rotary Club of Anderson, where he was 
honored with the 2003 Community Image Award.
  On behalf of the grateful constituents of Indiana's Fifth 
Congressional District, I congratulate Dr. Edwards on the occasion of 
his retirement. We congratulate him on his remarkable career and extend 
a huge thank you for all of the wonderful contributions he has made to 
the Hoosier community, to our state, and our nation. I wish the very 
best to Dr. Edwards, his wife, Deanna, his three children, and his six 
grandchildren as he enjoys a well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________