George DeForest Edwards, the first president of ASQ (1946-48), served in both the creation and preservation functions. His reputation in quality control had been established by his work as head of the inspection engineering department of Bell Telephone Laboratories and as Bell’s director of quality assurance, a term he coined. During World War II, he served as a consultant to the Army Ordnance Department, and later to the War Production Board.Edwards retired from Bell in 1955 but he remained active in ASQ, serving as chair of the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, and later as deputy executive secretary for dues abatement.
In 1960, ASQ recognized the administrative skill of its first president by establishing the Edwards Medal, to be awarded to “those who have made signal contributions through outstanding administrative service either to quality control programs in industry or to the society.”
While Edwards continued to observe and comment on ASQ until his death in 1974, he felt that a past president ought not serve too active a role, but pass the torch to younger leaders.
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