LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life of Norman Conklin Edwards
Jr., East Hampton Town Trustee

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to mourn publicly the
death of cherished citizens of the State of New York who distinguished
themselves in their professions and served the citizens of their commu-
nity with exemplary dedication and conscientious service; and
WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow this Legislative Body records the
passing of Norman Conklin Edwards Jr., Amagansett native, decorated
United States Coast Guard Captain, commercial fisherman, passionate
conservationist, and highly respected East Hampton Town Trustee at the
age of 64 at his home on January 19, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A descendant of three centuries of Long Island mariners and
its last whalers, including the last man to harpoon a whale from an open
boat in the Atlantic off Amagansett, Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. proudly
spent his life at sea; and
WHEREAS, Born on September 7, 1946, at Southampton Hospital, to Elsie
and the late Norman Edwards Sr., Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. grew up in
Amagansett; graduating from East Hampton High School, he went on to
attend the Coast Guard Academy and to earn a Bachelor of Science degree
in oceanography at Florida State University as well as a master's degree
in physical oceanography; and
WHEREAS, Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. joined the Coast Guard in 1968,
after attending the Coast Guard Academy, and retired in 1998 as a
Captain after 30 years of outstanding service during which he moved
around the country ably serving U.S. Coast Guard Units at Gales Ferry,
Connecticut; Juneau, Alaska; Novato, California; Ketchikan, Alaska;
Charleston, South Carolina; Tallahassee, Florida; San Francisco, Cali-
fornia and Grand Haven, Michigan; and
WHEREAS, He was a Licensed Master Mariner for unlimited vessel tonnag-
es and served as Commodore of Coast Guard Squadron 42, Commanding Offi-
cer of four Coast Guard cutters and the International Ice Patrol, and in
numerous other leadership roles; and
WHEREAS, During his distinguished Coast Guard career, Norman Conklin
Edwards Jr. assisted in almost 150 rescues; conducted an inventory of
the lighthouses along the East Coast; helped develop sweep width tables
while working at the Coast Guard Research and Development Center which
he himself successfully used when searching for a lost Venezuelan fish-
ing crew and which are still in use today; and
WHEREAS, In addition, when serving as the Commanding Officer of the
U.S. Coast Guard cutter Vigorous, he proudly hosted President Ronald
Reagan who spent several hours on board eating with the crew and learn-
ing about the ship; and
WHEREAS, After retiring from the Coast Guard he finally settled back
in Amagansett in 2002, building a house next to the home of his mother
and, fulfilling a lifelong dream of fishing commercially, he purchased a
40-foot stern trawler, The Petrel, which he docked in Three Mile Harbor
and took out into Gardiner's Bay 150 days each year; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
in Riverhead, New York, and previously in Juneau, Alaska, Norman Conklin
Edwards Jr. served the church in numerous leadership capacities and was
known and admired as a man of great faith, as evidenced, he believed, by
the fact that he never fished on Sundays; and
WHEREAS, Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. was fittingly elected a Trustee of
the East Hampton Town Board in 2005, and to subsequent terms in 2007 and
2009; and

WHEREAS, In addition to their usual roles and responsibilities, East
Hampton Town Trustees are uniquely charged with the responsibility of
being the stewards of the town's public waterways and coastlines; and
WHEREAS, Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. not only brought his passion for
this task to his role as a Town Trustee, he brought his academic back-
ground and his vast experience to it as well; and
WHEREAS, Intelligent and well-spoken, with an air of calm confidence,
Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. was highly regarded as a voice of reason and
was a welcome addition and a much valued member of the East Hampton Town
Board; and
WHEREAS, As a Trustee, Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. successfully took up
the causes of reviving the dwindling local winter flounder population
and of dredging the town's waterways; and
WHEREAS, He championed the establishment of a winter flounder hatchery
to restore the depleted species; the Trustees' recent re-institution of
its stock enhancement program is largely due to Norman Conklin Edwards
Jr.'s efforts and is a legacy of which he was justly proud; and
WHEREAS, Another major accomplishment of Norman Conklin Edwards Jr.'s
was the drafting of the town's waterways management plan, a feat he was
able to achieve as a Trustee working with the Harbor Management Commit-
tee and coordinating with the Natural Resources Department; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his father, Norman Edwards Sr., Norman Conklin
Edwards Jr. is survived by his mother, Elsie Edwards of Amagansett; his
wife, Lynda Edwards of Amagansett; his siblings, Linda Baker and Bruce
Edwards; his children, Samuel of Scottsdale, Arizona, Elan Eddington of
Tokyo, Japan, and Sarai Timothy and Zachariah, both of Juneau, Alaska;
and 11 grandchildren, all of whom are proud to have been part of his
life and will long treasure his memory; and
WHEREAS, Over his meritorious life, Norman Conklin Edwards Jr.
distinguished himself as a man of values and commitment and of sincere
dedication and substantial contribution; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the memory of Norman Conklin Edwards Jr., to celebrate his
life, and to applaud his many accomplishments that future generations
may know and appreciate his admirable character and the esteem in which
he was held; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Norman Conklin Edwards Jr. with the deepest
condolences of this Legislative Body.