Fred Edwards

Judge Fred Edwards dies at age 63
Frederick Eugene Edwards, a sixth generation Texan, was born on August 2, 1950 and died in The Woodlands, Texas on February 10, 2014 as a result of complications from a lengthy illness. Edwards proudly served Montgomery County, Texas as Judge of the 9th District Court for 20 years, until 2012. He presided over the general jurisdiction court which heard cases ranging from general civil and family law cases, to massive toxic tort litigation and capital murder cases involving the death penalty. But, Edwards was most well known in the legal world for his taking on numerous complex litigation cases in his court. These cases ranged from class actions such as the notorious "phen-fen" drug litigation, to billion dollar merger and acquisition cases such as the one involving Huntsman Corporation, to the first case where cell phone technology was used to capture a wanted fugitive in the "Uncle Hilty" kidnapping and murder case. He was a frequent and sought-after speaker at national conferences on electronic courts, mass dockets, and handling multi-district litigation. Judge Edwards also founded and avidly supported the Child Advocates Program in Montgomery County. Since leaving the judicial bench in 2013, Edwards has served as a special judge and popular mediator and arbitrator.
Without question, the loves of Judge Edwards' life were his children, Joseph Edwards and wife Katherine, and daughters Elizabeth and Kathryn Edwards. He was so proud of them, and treasured every opportunity to watch each of them succeed in their own rights by achieving educational goals and growing into happy, successful adults. He was married to attorney Linda Thompson for 30 years, with whom he enjoyed an enduring friendship. Throughout his life he nurtured his passions of civil war history, old movies, independent music [especially all things Texas], his beloved State of Texas, and Astros baseball. Edwards was infamous for his ability to tell entertaining war stories, and he enjoyed visiting historical Texas and American battle sites. He also played regularly with his poker group friends of 40 years.
Born in Cleveland, Texas, Judge Edwards graduated from Conroe High School in Conroe, Texas. His passion for politics and history perhaps began when he served Congressman John Dowdy in Washington, D. C. for one year during his high school as a Congressional page, and had the incredible fortune of being there as Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech on the Washington Mall. He furthered his education with a bachelor's degree at East Texas State University, and obtained his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1974. Prior to being elected District Judge in 1992, he managed a thriving legal practice for 18 years focusing on general civil litigation.
In addition to his loving children, he leaves to mourn him his mother Bobbie Joyce Edwards, brother Jimmie Edwards and his wife Debbie and their children Rachael Edwards Threadgill and husband Paul, Sarah Edwards, his sisters Elwanda Edwards and Wanda Minshew and her husband Morrie and their children Matthew Minshew and Meredith Brewer, and her husband Eric. He is also survived by his cousins Deborah Gurley Atwood and Wayne Gurley and grand nieces Shelby and Jamie Threadgill. He was preceded in death by his father, Jimmie Carl "J. C." Edwards.
Visitation will be held at the Metcalf Funeral Home, in Conroe Texas on Thursday, February 13th from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. Memorial Service will be on Friday, February 14th, 2:00PM at the First Baptist Church in Conroe Texas. In lieu of flowers, please donate to CASA-Child Advocates of Montgomery County or the Montgomery County Food Bank.
(More information about Judge Fred Edwards can be found at www.fedwards.com