Pioneer Weldon Edwards Honored At Virginia General Assembly

2/18/2022

RICHMOND, Va. – Weldon Edwards, the first Black football player at the University of Richmond, was honored Friday morning at the Virginia General Assembly for his trailblazing role at Richmond.

You look back and you say “where do all of these people come from that are my friends, associates, colleagues of mine and family?" I must have meant something to somebody. The feeling I got up there (at General Assembly) was overwhelming. I wasn’t expecting it and I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life.

Weldon Edwards

Edwards was a member of the Spider football program from 1970-73, graduating from Richmond in 1974. He played in 30 games in his career as a Spider, rushing for 321 yards while posting 436 yards of total offense. Injuries limited his career as a Spider on the playing field, battling through two knee injuries but his mark on the program was forever etched in stone.

He was a star high school player in the city of Richmond, attending the Maggie Walker High School and graduating in 1970. Edwards was presented the joint resolution by Spider Football alum and Virginia House of Delegates member John Avoli. Avoli was a Spider football letterwinner and played alongside Edwards, graduating in 1974.

In hindsight, I look back at the day that I started at the University of Richmond up until this point, all the friendships, the people I’ve met, the ups, the downs. I would never change it for anything in the world.

Weldon Edwards