Year Inducted: 1992
William F. Edmonds, who retired in 1989 as chairman of Birmingham-based BE&K, Inc., has distinguished himself throughout a long career in engineering and executive administration. He began his business career in 1952 with the Rust Engineering Company of Birmingham, which in a span of four years promoted him to the position of project manager. Following a two year stint with the Harbert Construction Company, he again became associated with Rust in 1958, advancing to chief engineer and vice president.
ham, where he serves as a member of the engineering council, presidential council, and UAB Research Foundation. He also serves as a member of the advisory council of the Math and Science Division of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and as a member of the Edward Lee Horton Board of Advisors for Management and Professional Engineering of Birmingham-Southern College. In addition, he is a member of the board of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Society.
In 1967 he accepted a transfer to Brussels, Belgium, as president of Coppee Rust, a European affiliate of Rust Engineering. In this position, he directed work in 15 countries overseas. He returned to Birmingham in 1972, where he and two associates founded BE&K, Inc. He served the firm as president and chief executive officer from the company’s beginnings through 1983, when he was named as chairman. He held that position until his retirement.
BE&K operations began with an annual volume of $36 million, increasing to $3.4 billion by 1989. The company has been recognized for providing innovative and advanced technical services to the paper industry, and similar industries throughout the northern hemisphere.
Edmonds earned the bachelor of science degree from Virginia Military Institute in 1948, where he was regarded as an excellent student. In 1986 he received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Alabama at BirmingIn the area of civic affairs, he serves as a board member of the United Way/Community Chest, and a member of the board of advisors of the Cahaba River Society. He is also the board chairman of Kirkwood-by-the-River, a life care retirement community. Because of his leadership roles in the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he was elected Citizen of the Year in 1988 by the Young Men’s Business Club of Birmingham. In 1991, he was installed as a member of the Alabama Academy of Honor.
He was also honored by the Belgian government as a Knight of the Order of the Crown, and was named Engineer of the Year by the Engineering Council of Birmingham in 1983. Edmonds is a former member of the board of directors of the First Alabama Bank of Birmingham, a director of Energen Corporation, and a trustee of the Southern Research Institute. He and wife Joan are the parents of two sons, Harry and Bryson.
