George Kent Edwards

Oct 3, 1939 -

Aug 9, 2021

Former Alaska Attorney General and U.S. Attorney, George "Kent" Edwards, 81, passed away in Ajijic, Mexico, on Aug. 9, 2021.

Born in Ogden, Utah, on Oct. 3, 1939, Kent was the only child of George and Sylvia "Ruth" (Engelke) Edwards and was raised in Fresno, Calif. He graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Occidental College in Pasadena, Calif., and was president of the SAE fraternity. He received a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law in 1964. One day in Spain he met and later married Barbara Day, a registered nurse.

After law school Kent took a job with the Legislative Affairs Council in Juneau, Alaska. There he worked closely with House Majority Leader Ted Stevens, who asked Kent to join his Anchorage office, which became Stevens, Savage, Holland, Erwin and Edwards.

At age 28, Kent was appointed Attorney General by Governor Hickel, making him the youngest in Alaska history and the youngest serving in the U.S. He continued in that position through the term of Governor Miller. Sadly, Barbara died in 1970, and Kent returned to Anchorage.

Kent was next appointed U.S. Attorney for Alaska by President Richard Nixon in 1971, again the youngest in the nation, a job he held under three presidents. His office handled nearly all federal cases - civil and criminal - ranging from military violations to international fishing interceptions, to Native Land Claim disputes, organized crime during pipeline construction and the Cannikin underground nuclear test on Amchitka Island. Kent served on the Metro Task Force and led many successful prosecutions to combat rising illegal drug use in the state.

In 1972, Kent married Patricia Brown and together they raised three children. In 1978, he returned to private practice, eventually becoming the managing partner of Hartig, Rhodes, Norman, Mahoney and Edwards. He wrote a monthly Anchorage Times editorial column, taught business law at UAA, was active in Rotary, and numerous public policy and youth support organizations. Kent was president of Common Sense for Alaska and the National Association of Former U.S. Attorneys. He served on the boards of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Crime Stoppers and The Great Alaska Shootout.

In 1989, Kent married publisher Linda (Warren) Brown, and the two traveled the world, eventually purchasing "Los Artistas" in Ajijic, where they entertained hundreds of visitors and were rated by Fodor as the "Best B&B in Mexico." While in Mexico, Kent expanded his artistic pursuits and became a proficient water-color painter and photographer.

Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by his parents; and his first wife, Barbara. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Linda Brown; daughter, Stacey Bender (Tom); sons, Scott (Christine) and Mark (Irma) Edwards; stepson, Jeffrey Brown (Julie); and seven grandchildren, Jess, Catherine, Julia, Olivia, Axel, Matthew, Alex and Derek - all of whom he was extremely proud and loved deeply – which is exactly how we all felt about him.