Don Edwards, who cancer claimed in 2005 at the age of 61, earned his nickname of “Animal” early as a scrappy standout basketball player at Kelloggsville High School.

He went on to star with a record-setting basketball career at Central Michigan University from 1962-66 where he led the Chippewas to two conference championships. With 1,402 points and 919 rebounds at just 6-foot-1, he set then all-time career marks that remain among the top totals in the program’s history. His jersey with the number 54 is retired and hangs in the rafters at CMU’s Rose Arena. He came home, played for the Grand Rapids Tackers semi-pro basketball club, taught physical education at Grand Rapids Creston High School for 37 years and was also an instructor at Grand Rapids Community College.

He reached the NCAA Division I level as a basketball and football official as well and worked games for over 20 years. He also stayed in shape by running and completed 25 marathons, including finishing among the top 350 runners in the famed Boston Marathon twice. In addition to being inducted to the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, he is a member of the Michigan High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as an official and was part of the inaugural CMU Sports Hall of Fame Class in 1984.

The Don Edwards Memorial Scholarship, set up by his family, is awarded annually at Grand Rapids Community College to students in need.