Paul L. Edwards

Paul L. Edwards graduated from Smith-Cotton High School, Sedalia, MO, in 1932. He completed a 5 year apprentice as a blacksmith at Missouri Pacific Railroad. Then he worked in the Boston Shipyards and the Panama Shipyards but returned to Sedalia and married Catherine Orr on November 27, 1941. Within 10 days the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Paul enlisted in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion ("Seabees") in December, 1942, started Boot Camp in January, 1943, and served until August, 1945.

Paul lived in De Soto, MO, from 1947 until 1962 when he returned to Sedalia, MO. Paul worked at Missouri Pacific Railroad for 45 years, was promoted to Superintendent of the Sedalia Shops in 1973, and retired in 1978. He was posthumously selected to the Smith-Cotton Hall of Fame in May, 2000.