The “Pirates On The Vineyard, Bill Edmondson Memorial Current Use Scholarship” is a tribute to William Ewell Edmondson Sr., a distinguished alumnus of Hampton University and a beloved figure in Martha’s Vineyard and Oak Bluffs.

William (Bill) Ewell Edmondson Sr. was born on July 7, 1931, in Halifax, Virginia. He graduated from Hampton University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was an active member of the swim team and Omega Psi Phi fraternity. After marrying his college sweetheart, Rose Dingle Edmondson, the couple raised their family in Trenton, New Jersey, while Bill worked in various management positions at U.S. Steel in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. Eventually, they moved to Pittsburgh, where he served as corporate manager of equal employment opportunity and labor relations for United States Steel Corporation.

Bill was not only dedicated to his career but also actively involved in his fraternity, taking on various roles and serving on the board of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Federal Credit Union. He cherished traveling the world with Rose but especially loved spending summers at their home in Oak Bluffs. There, he enjoyed golfing, swimming, boating, and fishing.

A passionate reader and cultural enthusiast, Bill frequently attended plays and jazz concerts. He passed away on August 19, 2022, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of humor, inspiration, and community spirit. Bill Edmondson is fondly remembered as a great Pirate whose impact continues to resonate within the Hampton University and Martha’s Vineyard communities.