Horace Hall Edwards

Horace Hall Edwards (August 21, 1902 – January 27, 1987) was an American politician. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, as mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and was a candidate for governor of Virginia in 1949.

Early life Horace Hall Edwards was born on August 21, 1902, in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, to Hope (née Hall) and Samuel H. Edwards. He graduated from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Laws in 1926.

Career Edwards was a Democrat and campaigned for presidential candidate Al Smith in 1928. After, he practiced law in the Richmond area. In 1932, he formed a law practice with John S. Davenport that later became Mays, Valentine, Davenport and Moore. He ran on a platform for more and better schools and better pay for teachers. He proposed a 2 percent sales tax to finance improvements to public education. In the Democratic primary, Edwards finished third with only 15 percent of the vote. On January 1, 1954, he was elected by the nine-member council as Richmond's second city manager, replacing Sherwood Reeder. He served as city manager for 13 years and factions in the city council tried to oust him three times in 1957, 1958 and 1963. During his tenure as city manager, he pushed the construction and planning of the Health-Safety-Welfare Building, construction of a jail and detention center and appropriated money for new Ninth Street and Acca railroad yard bridges. He lived at 1406 Palmyra Avenue in Richmond. He was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Edwards had a stroke in 1985. He died on January 27, 1987, at a hospital in Richmond. He was buried at Hollywood Cemetery.

Awards In 1963, Edwards was honored by the International City Managers' Association for "contributions to the advancement of the city manager profession". In 1970, the association gave him a service award. In 1967, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Richmond.