John R. Edwards (US Marshal)

Last updated
Linda Mary Lacoste
(m. 19661981)

Deanna Mary (Considine) Fuller
(m. 1987)
John R. Edwards
US Marshal for the District of Vermont
In office
2002–2009
Children2
Education Castleton State College
ProfessionLaw enforcement officer
Military service
Service United States Navy
Years of service1960–1963
Rank Radarman
Unit USS Spiegel Grove

John R. Edwards (b. 1942) is a retired American law enforcement officer from Vermont. A veteran of the United States Navy, he spent his career with the Vermont State Police, from which he retired as a lieutenant. He then operated a private investigation firm; a Republican, he served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. In 2002, he was appointed US Marshal for the District of Vermont, and he served until 2009.

Contents

Early life

John Robert Edwards was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont in 1942, the son of Roland E. Edwards and Ursula Jane (Brosnan) Edwards. [1] [2] [3] He was raised and educated in Bellows Falls and Saxtons River and graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1960. [4] After high school, Edwards served in the United States Navy for three years. [5] After training as a radarman, he served aboard USS Spiegel Grove. [6] Following his active duty military service, Edwards continued to serve in the United States Navy Reserve. [7]

Family

In 1966, Edwards married Linda Mary Lacoste; they were the parents of two children, and she died in 1981. [8] [9] In 1987, he married Deanna Mary (Considine) Fuller, the mother of four children with her first husband, who died in 1984. [3] [10]

Career

After his Navy service, Edwards joined the Vermont State Police (VSP). [11] In 1973, he received an associate's degree in criminal justice from Castleton State College, and he received his bachelor's degree from Castleton in 1975. [12] [13] He remained with the VSP until 1992 and retired as a lieutenant. [7] [14] As he worked through the ranks, Edwards' postings included supervisor of the St. Albans barracks and supervisor of detectives for northwestern Vermont. [15]

After retiring, he resided in Swanton, served on the Missisquoi School Board, and operated a private investigation firm, JRE Investigations. [7] [14] A Republican, in 1994, Edwards was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives; he was reelected in 1996 and 1998, and served from 1997 to 2001. [16] Edwards was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 2000, with his defeat attributed to backlash over his support for Vermont's Civil Unions law. [17]

In January 2001, Republican George W. Bush became president and US Senator Jim Jeffords recommended Edwards for appointment as US Marshal for the District of Vermont. [15] The nomination was delayed after Jeffords left the Republican Party in May 2001 and became an independent. [18] Bush made the nomination in early 2002, and Edwards was confirmed in March. [19] Edwards served until 2009 and was succeeded by David Demag. [20]

References

  1. "Obituary, Ursula Edwards". Brattleboro Reformer . Brattleboro, Vermont. 17 July 2023. p. 12 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Obituary, Roland E. Edwards". Rutland Herald . Rutland, Vermont. 2 October 2011. p. B4 via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, Vermont: Vermont Secretary of State. 1997. p. 206 via Google Books.
  4. "98 Get Diplomas at B. Falls". Brattleboro Reformer . Brattleboro, Vermont. 16 June 1960. pp.  1, 12 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Linda M. Lacoste Engaged to Wed John R. Edwards". St. Albans Messenger . St. Albans, Vermont. 7 March 1966. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Seaman In South Africa". Brattleboro Reformer . Brattleboro, Vermont. 17 August 1961. p. 16 via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 Office of the Press Secretary (1 March 2002). "Nominations and Appointments: John R. Edwards". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Washington, DC: The White House. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  8. "Linda Lacoste, John R. Edwards Married Saturday at Swanton". St. Albans Messenger . St. Albans, Vermont. 28 June 1966. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Obituary, Linda M. Edwards". Rutland Herald . Rutland, Vermont. 16 November 1981. p. 4 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Obituary, James B. Fuller". Rutland Herald . Rutland, Vermont. 9 May 1984. p. 6 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Further Training". St. Albans Messenger . St. Albans, Vermont. 4 June 1964. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Record Class Graduates From Castleton College". Rutland Herald . Rutland, Vermont. 21 May 1973. p. 13 via Newspapers.com.
  13. Clark, Katherine (12 May 1975). "Skinner tells Castleton Graduates Of Pressing Need For Spirit Of '75". Rutland Herald . Rutland, Vermont. p. 15 via Newspapers.com.
  14. 1 2 Cowperthwait, Richard (10 June 1992). "Divers recover Swanton teen's body". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont. p. 6B via Newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 Remsen, Nancy (11 January 2001). "Jeffords picks John Edwards for U.S. Marshal". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Franklin & Caledonia County Results: Franklin/Grand Isle–1". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont. 8 November 2000. p. 10A via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Rally: 'Take Vermont Forward' is the cry". Rutland Herald . Rutland, Vermont. Associated Press. 16 October 2000. pp.  A1, A8 via Newspapers.com.
  18. Ring, Wilson (29 June 2001). "Jeffords new appointments are OK with Republicans". Bennington Banner . Bennington, Vermont. Associated Press. p. 2 via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Edwards confirmed as Vt. U.S. Marshal". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont. 9 March 2002. p. 3B via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Former chief tapped as U.S. Marshal". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont. Associated Press. 11 March 2009 via Newspapers.com.