- Joan C. Edwards
Joan C. Edwards (1918 – May 7, 2006) was a
New Orleans jazz singer and well-knownWest Virginia -based philanthropist.Biography
Born Joan Cavill in
London ,England , she moved to New Orleans at the age of four. By age 11, she was singing on New Orleans radio station WWL, the start of a musical career that included filming movie shorts, singing with orchestras, recording withClyde McCoy and his Kentucky Band, and performing in New York, Pittsburgh and Chicago.While singing at Pittsburgh's William Penn Hotel, she met
James F. Edwards , owner and CEO of National Mattress Company (Namaco), whom she married in 1937. [ [http://www.marshall.edu/ucomm/release/2006/jce/index.html "In Memoriam Joan Cavill Edwards"] , "Marshall University", accessed [May 12, 2006] ] She moved toHuntington, West Virginia , native home of her husband.Joan and James Edwards donated more than $65 million to
Marshall University and the Huntington community. [ [http://www.herald-dispatch.com/assets/pdf/C127856511.PDF] ] She was the largest single donor toMarshall University in the modern era. Joan C. Edwards died onMay 7 ,2006 from liver cancer. She spent the last few days of her life receiving treatment and care in the cancer center she helped to create. [ [http://www.huntingtonnews.net/local/060509-staff-edwards.html Huntington News ] ]Buildings named after her
* [http://musom.marshall.edu/ Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine]
*Marshall University Joan C. Edwards Stadium
* [http://www.marshall.edu/campus/jomie_jazz/ Marshall University Jomie Jazz Center]
* [http://www.marshall.edu/campus/virtualtour.asp?id=7 Marshall University Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center]
* [http://edwardsccc.org/ Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center]Marshall University - Joan C. Edwards Cancer Center, named in 2007
Trivia
Joan C. Edwards Stadium is the only NCAA Division I stadium named after a woman.Notes
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