Edwards was an automobile paint sprayer from Atlanta, Georgia, and rebuilt the Klan beginning in 1953. In his book The Informant: The FBI, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Murder of Viola Liuzzo, Gary May notes that Edwards became prominent at a time when the Klan was splintered into different local groups. Edwards succeeded Samuel Roper and was elected leader of the third KKK which was reestablished at Stone Mountain by Samuel Green in 1946, the successor of the second KKK.[2] In 1955, Edwards created his own organization, "U.S. Klans, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan", and established a 15,000 strong following in nine south eastern American states.[3] In the late 1950s, Edwards joined forces with Roy Elonzo Davis who was Imperial Wizard of the Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and one of the founding members of the second KKK who was leading the KKK in the western southern states. Edwards appointed Davis as Grand Dragon of the KKK in Texas in 1958 in an effort to merge their organizations.[4]
Edwards was interviewed by Mike Wallace on May 5, 1957, as noted in Wallace's 2006 book Between You and Me. Wallace confronted Edwards over his racism and the violence of the KKK. Edwards explained to Wallace that he believed segregation was instituted by God, and cited various bible verses to support his position. He insisted that racial segregation was a key tenet of true Christianity, and rejected the teachings of other Christian leaders who supported racial integration.[5][6]
Edwards, long diagnosed with heart disease, died of a heart attack in Atlanta on August 1, 1960. In his last public appearance, Edwards said, "We have more right to organize than the communists and the NAACP," and added, "We white people are the inheritors of this country. We do not intend to surrender it."[7] When Edwards died, his KKK organization splintered as different men attempted to take leadership. Roy Davis claimed to news media that he was the true successor of Edwards, claiming to have been elected to the position in 1959.[8][9][10]
Referencesedit
^Sims, Patsy (1996). The Klan. University Press of Kentucky. p. 34. ISBN0-8131-0887-X.
^Staff report (March 4, 1986). Samuel W. Roper, 90, was second director of GBI in early 1940s. Atlanta Journal-Constitution
^Review of The Informant: The FBI, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Murder of Viola Liuzzo by May, Gary, 2005 at www.wnyc.org April 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^"Minister May Take Over Klan". Corsicana Daily. March 28, 1958.
^. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
eldon, edwards, eldon, edwards, june, 1909, august, 1960, american, klux, klan, leader, grand, wizard, knights, klux, klanin, office, 1950, 1960preceded, bysamuel, ropersucceeded, byroy, elonzo, davispersonal, detailsbornjune, 1909georgiadiedaugust, 1960, aged. Eldon Lee Edwards June 8 1909 August 1 1960 1 was an American Ku Klux Klan leader Eldon Edwards7th Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux KlanIn office 1950 1960Preceded bySamuel RoperSucceeded byRoy Elonzo DavisPersonal detailsBornJune 8 1909GeorgiaDiedAugust 1 1960 aged 51 Atlanta GeorgiaBiography editEdwards was an automobile paint sprayer from Atlanta Georgia and rebuilt the Klan beginning in 1953 In his book The Informant The FBI the Ku Klux Klan and the Murder of Viola Liuzzo Gary May notes that Edwards became prominent at a time when the Klan was splintered into different local groups Edwards succeeded Samuel Roper and was elected leader of the third KKK which was reestablished at Stone Mountain by Samuel Green in 1946 the successor of the second KKK 2 In 1955 Edwards created his own organization U S Klans Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and established a 15 000 strong following in nine south eastern American states 3 In the late 1950s Edwards joined forces with Roy Elonzo Davis who was Imperial Wizard of the Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and one of the founding members of the second KKK who was leading the KKK in the western southern states Edwards appointed Davis as Grand Dragon of the KKK in Texas in 1958 in an effort to merge their organizations 4 Edwards was interviewed by Mike Wallace on May 5 1957 as noted in Wallace s 2006 book Between You and Me Wallace confronted Edwards over his racism and the violence of the KKK Edwards explained to Wallace that he believed segregation was instituted by God and cited various bible verses to support his position He insisted that racial segregation was a key tenet of true Christianity and rejected the teachings of other Christian leaders who supported racial integration 5 6 Edwards long diagnosed with heart disease died of a heart attack in Atlanta on August 1 1960 In his last public appearance Edwards said We have more right to organize than the communists and the NAACP and added We white people are the inheritors of this country We do not intend to surrender it 7 When Edwards died his KKK organization splintered as different men attempted to take leadership Roy Davis claimed to news media that he was the true successor of Edwards claiming to have been elected to the position in 1959 8 9 10 References edit Sims Patsy 1996 The Klan University Press of Kentucky p 34 ISBN 0 8131 0887 X Staff report March 4 1986 Samuel W Roper 90 was second director of GBI in early 1940s Atlanta Journal Constitution Review of The Informant The FBI the Ku Klux Klan and the Murder of Viola Liuzzo by May Gary 2005 at www wnyc org Archived April 8 2006 at the Wayback Machine Minister May Take Over Klan Corsicana Daily March 28 1958 Review of Between You and Me by Wallace Mike 2006 at www mvtimes com Archived from the original on September 29 2007 Retrieved October 21 2006 The Mike Wallace Interview May 5 1957 Klan Wizard Dies of Heart Attack Pacific Stars and Stripes August 4 1960 p 3 Minister May Take Over Klan Corsicana Daily March 28 1958 Klan Groups Are Banished Leader Says Arkansas Gazette May 29 1959 KKK s Membership Very Small In Texas Dallas Morning News February 11 1961 p 5 External links editEldon Edwards on The Mike Wallace Interview Archived February 12 2012 at the Wayback MachinePreceded bySamuel Roper Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan1950 1959 Succeeded byRoy Elonzo Davis Robert Shelton nbsp nbsp This biographical article about a United States activist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eldon Edwards amp oldid 1169524861, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
