Jack Edwards (American politician)

William Jackson "Jack" Edwards
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district
In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1985
Preceded by	Frank W. Boykin
Succeeded by	Sonny Callahan
Personal details
Born	(1928-09-20) September 20, 1928 Birmingham, Alabama
Political party	Republican
Residence	Point Clear, Alabama
Occupation	Attorney

William Jackson "Jack" Edwards (born September 20, 1928) is a former U.S. Republican politician, who represented Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 until 1985.

Edwards was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but eventually moved to Point Clear, a suburb of Mobile and opened a law practice there. His great-great grandfather, William F. Aldrich, had been the last Republican congressman from the state, serving (with a few months' break) from 1896 to 1901.

Edwards was first elected to Congress in 1964, one of five Republicans elected to the House from Alabama amid Barry Goldwater's sweep of the state in that year's presidential election. He represented the state's 1st District, based in Mobile. The seat had been left vacant when 28-year incumbent Frank Boykin was the state's only congressman not returned in the 1962 at-large election. He defeated Democrat John Tyson, Sr. by nineteen points. He was reelected nine times. Edwards did not seek reelection in 1984. He was succeeded by State Senator Sonny Callahan, a Democrat who turned Republican after Edwards promised him his endorsement. Edwards resumed his law practice, and was co-chairman of the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

External links

• United States Congress. "Jack Edwards (id: E000084)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.