William B. "Monk" Edwards

WILLIAM B. "MONK" EDWARDS died, battling cancer, on Tuesday, the 19th of May 2009. Monk was born on the 9th of July 1920, in Ireland, Coryell County, Texas, and began his education in the Beaumont Public School System, ultimately earning an LLB from Baylor University in 1942. He was a special agent with the FBI in the early `40's, served in the United States Infantry during World War II, and played professional football with the New York Giants from 1940-1942 and again in 1946 (all-pro, 1942). In 1946 he began his career in the legal department at Gulf Oil, where he remained until retiring in 1976 as Assistant General Counsel, with tours of service in Fort Worth, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and Houston. Monk was a member of River Oaks Baptist Church, River Oaks Country Club, the Texas, Pennsylvania, American and Houston Bar Associations, and was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and Texas State Courts, as well as various Federal Courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 47 years, Nelda, he is survived by his daughters, Ben Joyce Davis and her husband Sonny, and Alyce Len Edwards; son William C. Edwards and his wife Jennie; grandchildren, Joyce Mann and her husband Phil, Aaron Adams and her husband Brett, Molly Davis, Lee Mabry and his wife Karen, Wendy Glover and her husband Brian; and great grandchildren, Neal and Ava Adams, Leann and Allie Mabry, and Morgan and Hayden Glover. He is also survived by his sister Marie Knowles and her husband Sam, sister-in-law Agatha Jacob and her husband Jake, as well as several nieces and nephews. In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to The Living Bank, P.O. Box 6725, Houston, TX 77265-6725, or to the charity of one's choice.