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Note: Raymond was born in San Francisco but raised in Los Gatos attending school there. He had not finished high school when his father died. WW I Draft Registration June 5, 1917 grey eyes, light brown hair 492 18th Ave. SF, CA Civil Engineer with Foster and Kleiser 1919 Crocker and Langley San Francisco City Directory Edwards Alice Mrs. 470 19th Av Edwards Estelle G techr Pub School r 470 19th Av Edwards, Raymond A engineer r 492 18th Av Teall, Edw O US asst boiler insp (steam vessels) r 470 19th Av AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS Founded November 5, 1852 MEMOIRS Note: Memoirs will he reproduced in the volumes of Transactions. Any information which will amplify the records as here printed, or correct any errors, should be forwarded to the Secretary immediately for final publication. RAYMOND ARDEN EDWARDS, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E. DIED Julv 13, 1930 Raymond Arden Edwards was born in San Francisco, Calif., on July 30, 1886. His father, Harry B. Edwards, was of English descent, the son of one of the Governors of the Penal Colony of Australia. His mother, Alice (Doud) Edwards, was of Scotch ancestry, the daughter of a well-known pioneer of San Francisco, Calif., Aaron Doud. Mr. Edwards obtained his early schooling in Los Gatos, Calif. He had not quite finished High School when his father died and at the age of seventeen he was forced to leave school and go to work. He began his business career as a hardware store clerk, but he gave it up after six months and took a position as office boy with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. His early ambition was to become a civil engineer, and he devoted all his spare time to poring over engineering books. Mr. A. B. Southard, a well-known San Francisco engineer, encouraged and helped Mr. Edwards in his studies. He gave him his start in engineering by employing him as Chainman on the San Jose' and San Francisco Electric Railroad in 1905 and from this position he rapidly advanced to that of Leveler and Transitman. From July, 1906, to August, 1907, under the direction of Mr. Southard, he was in charge of field work and construction of a mining flume in the Yuba River Canyon, a concrete building, sea walls, a pier, and water supply works at Clear Lake, Calif. While gaining practical experience in construction, Mr. Edwards, with a determination that was characteristic of everything lie undertook, pursued his engineering studies by attending night school. He developed a natural ability to organize and superintend construction projects and from August, 1907, to July, 1912, he had charge of several important works of engineering in Northern California. Luring this period his list of accomplishments in-eludes sub-division and street improvement work, the construction of a seven-story steel frame and concrete building, highway and dam construction, irri-gation works, and a large concrete railroad roundhouse. The field of irrigation engineering attracted him and in July, 1912, he became Superintendent for the Beard Construction Company on the building of the Goodwin Dam on the Stanislaus River, California. This dam diverts approximately 1400 cu. ft. per sec. into the canal systems of the South San Joaquin and Oakdale Irrigation Districts, supplying water to about 150000 acres of valley lands. In April, 1913, Mr. Edwards was made Chief Engineer of the Modesto Irrigation District, in charge of hydrographic investigations and construction and also of the operation of the extensive canal system delivering water from the Tuolumne River to 83000 acres of irrigable land. He planned and carried out many important betterments for the irrigation system during his two years as Chief Engineer. In March, 1915, he joined the United States Reclamation Service as Engineer in charge of field investigations for the preliminary report on the Lower Pitt River Irrigation Project, in California. In January, 1916, Mr. Edwards became Supervising Engineer for the Foster and Kleiser Company, Outdoor Advertisers, with headquarters in San Francisco. He pioneered in a field that has since attracted a large number of civil engineers. He was responsible for many of the improvements that were made in the outdoor advertising industry, standardization of this medium throughout the United States. In July, 1919, he was appointed to be Southern California Manager of the Foster and Kleiser Company, and, under his able direction, the business in this section grew to large proportions and reached a high state of perfection. His executive ability and advanced ideas brought him further recognition and, in July, 1923, he was called to the Main Office in San Francisco to create and manage a Statistical and Research Lepartment; and in July, 1928, he became San Francisco Branch Manager, a position he held at the time of his death. Mr. Edwards was a very public spirited citizen. He never hesitated to give his time and energy to civic affairs. He was a member of the Planning Commission in San Francisco, a Rotarian, and Secretary of the Club in Los Angeles. He was a Thirty-second Degree Mason, a member of the Young Men's Christian Association Board, and active in Advertising Club work. His delightful personality and keen sense of humor won for him a host of friends both within and outside the profession. He had a keen understanding of human nature. Men who worked under him loved him. He was extremely energetic, almost tireless, and always ready to lend a helping hand to others. For recreation, Mr. Edwards turned to hunting and fishing. He had a keen liking for the outdoor life and never missed an opportunity to spend a week-end or vacation in the mountains. He had purchased a large tract of mountainous land in Napa County, California, and had built a hunting lodge where he could take his family and friends for outdoor recreation. Death came to Mr. Edwards very suddenly while at his mountain lodge. A long tramp through the hills on an extremely hot day was too much even for his tremendous strength and healthy constitution, and he died of heat prostration. His passing, in the prime of life, was a great loss and shock to his family and to his many friends. He was married on April 28, 1912, to Adelaide May Roberts, of San Jose', Calif., who, with two children, Jane and Harry Wilson, survives him. Mr. Edwards was elected a Junior of the American Society of Civil Engineers on June 24, 1914, and an Associate Member on November 28, 1916. Memoir prepared by R. W. Olmsted, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E.
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