William C. Edwards
September 9, 1928 - February 19,2017
William C. Edwards, a wonderful husband, father and friend, passed away peacefully at his home in Atherton, California on Sunday, February 19, 2017, where he lived for 61 years. Bill was born on September 9, 1928, to Leland and Katherine Edwards in Los Angeles and raised in Long Beach, California. He attended local public schools until leaving home at 15 to attend the New Mexico Military Institute. After high school Bill enrolled at Stanford University, joined the Beta house and graduated with a BS in Petroleum Engineering. He completed his education at Harvard University in 1953, receiving a graduate degree with distinction from Harvard Business School.
He returned to Southern California and took a position at Standard Oil of California, a decision that led to his transfer to Northern California and the start of a career change. In 1959, after a short time with Lionel D. Edie & Co., Bill joined close friend John Bryan to form Bryan & Edwards, a private venture capital investment firm that played an important role in the launching of the venture capital industry.
Over the next 50 years Bill helped entrepreneurs start and manage many of Silicon Valley’s great companies. He served on several corporate boards including Boole & Babbage, Hambrecht & Quist, Trust Company of the West, Western Atlas and Octel Communications.
Bill’s life passion was to protect our freedoms, which he pursued as a member of the Executive Committee of the Hoover Institution, a group he strongly believed in. He served as Trusteeemeritus of Deerfield Academy and Scripps College. He supported the San Francisco Symphony as a member of their Board of Governors, served as President of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists and sat on the board of the National Venture Capital Association. He served several years as Director and Treasurer of Population Action International and was a member of the Advisory Board and the Associates Committee of the Center for Economic Policy Research at Stanford University. He was a founding Director of Opportunity Capital Corporation, a minority small business investment company.
Bill was an avid golfer and loved playing with his friends and family. He was a charter member of the Spyglass Hills Golf Course, an active member of the Menlo Country Club, the Cypress Point Golf Club where he served four years as Club President and the San Francisco Golf Club. He also enjoyed the Palo Alto Club, The Bohemian Club and his Hillbillie campmates at the Bohemian Grove.
Along with his exciting professional career, Bill was equally active with family and friends. In 1954 Bill married Bette Cree Edwards. They raised four children: Will, Cree (Jennifer), Paul (Silvia) and Kathy until Bette’s passing in 1978. In 1983, Bill married Barbara Haag Edwards and they raised two daughters, Kristin Gray and Dr. Kate Gray (David Pyle). He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, his children, 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Bill’s brother, Paul, died in 1944 while serving in the U.S. Navy.
Bill was a passionate patriot and a man of the highest integrity who loved his family dearly. We miss him. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, or any charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held at a later date.