Stephen Edwards
📍Winston-Salem, NC | Wealth Advisor at Baird
📝 Editor’s Note | Rob Belk
Inspiration for my weekly note can come at random times and locations.
Green Hill Cemetery is the oldest in Greensboro, established in 1877, and borders my neighborhood. It is also very big with 19,000 burial plots and over 900 different kinds of trees and shrubs (another story worth documenting). The tombstones are as unique and varied as the trees themselves. It’s a beautiful, underrated space and a real asset to our neighborhood and city.
Many of my neighbors, myself included, take their dogs for walks in the cemetery. The other week, a specific tombstone caught my eye: Sir Douglas Dickerson. The tombstone was flanked by an American and French flag with the large word “CHEVALIER,” with “French Legion of Honor” beneath it. Naturally, I got curious and went to learn more about a man who went by “Curly.” This is what I found:
Athletic standout in football and basketball at Greensboro Senior High and North Carolina State
Enlisted early in WWII as a paratrooper (82nd Airborne), choosing to serve before the draft
Served in six major campaigns: Sicily, Italy, Normandy (D-Day), Holland, the Bulge, and Germany, totaling 371 combat days
Awarded 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Purple Hearts, the Presidential Unit Citation, Expert Infantry Badge, and the rare Triple Combat Infantryman Badge;
France awarded him the Croix de Guerre, and in 2004 conferred the title of Chevalier (Knight) in the Légion d’Honneur, hence “Sir” on his tombstone
Lifelong coach in high school and Little League (mentored Howard Coble and Erskine Bowles) and had a 32-year career with the US Postal Service
You can visit his personal collection at the Greensboro Historical Museum. I’m grateful that a chance morning walk and a distinct tombstone led me to discover a life so well lived. RIP Curly.
Without further ado, this week’s profile…
Why Stephen?
I met Stephen through a mutual friend. We immediately connected over our shared values and desire to support the First Tee. You’ll notice the golf theme throughout; however, I want to emphasize how impressed I am with how he has blended entrepreneurship with his passion. Read on to learn about Twilight Golf, and the initiative to build a 6-hole course.
Follow Stephen @stephenjedwards
Self-Description
My Insights Profile calls me an "Inspiring Motivator," and that feels like big shoes to fill. I try to show up every day doing just that with my family, my team at work and clients, and I particularly love when community impact brings people together through sports to work together... also a lifelong Deacs fan and a competitive 8 handicap!
Stephen’s 6 Recommendations
Written in his own words…
1. Johnston Gray Designs
I love golf and particularly am a sucker for cool products, prizes, swag. I have to shoutout my friend William Rainey and his company, Johnston Gray Designs. Whether you are a member of a club or a muni lover there is something for everyone and his custom ball coins and divot tools are awesome! He also has an array of cool design work and swag. @johnstongraydesigns
2. Good Walks by Lee Pace
I recently came across this through a friend and bought a bunch of copies off Amazon in advance of Father’s Day, graduation gifts, etc. It is a beautifully appointed book that could be a coffee table piece even in a non-golf loving home and speaks to me as someone who loves a good walk, the way the game connects my mind body and soul, and especially is proud of the amazing courses we have in the Carolinas.
3. Strapped Series from No Laying Up
As much as I want my answer to make me look like I consume content at home that makes me look like a life long learner I am just going to be honest here... the best thing going is the "Strapped" series from No Laying Up. It is true art and the producer DJ Piehowski is as talented as they come in the video space and the bond of brotherhood through inside jokes and bits that the central characters Neil and Big Randy have built over the many seasons and trips together now is just amazing. As a video series it just goes to show you how much golf can be the thing that brings us together and binds us and if you allow it is so much more than just a game, just a score. That said... I am here for the mega bonus and know one of the boys will do it soon! My personal favorite is the South Carolina mini-series but I would encourage you to start at the beginning.
4. Visit Winston-Salem
As a proud Winston-Salem resident, I will throw out a few of my absolute favorites and try to sneak in some recommendations that might be under the radar:
Snag biscuits to go from Acadia Foods (SEC, IYKYK) and eat them in the back yard of the West Salem Public House with family or friends. Hatchet Coffee for the win!
Our crew has been on a major East of Texas kick recently with the weather so nice. Hard to beat one of their brisket trays and as a former Dallas resident, they make a solid margarita.
5. Art from Dave Baysden
Last year my wife surprised me with a beautifully framed piece of art from my dear friend and artist Dave Baysden. If you love golf and/or nature scenes, you have GOT to check out his work! He has done work for some of the biggest clubs and brands in the game and has such a feel for the soul of the scene he is capturing. Dave is enormously talented in design as well and actually recently finished a brand package for the Old Field 6 hole short course project I am involved with and you can find more of his work. @dpbays_art
6. Visit Asheville, NC
As a native of Asheville, NC I am going to take some privilege and implore readers to consider a visit to WNC at some point in the next year... they got rocked by Hurricane Helene, and while my hometown is resilient and digging out, support them!
For NC-based readers, here is a fun 24-hour recommendation:
Taco Billy breakfast tacos on your way into town... coming from East, stop in Black Mountain, coming from West or South hit the Haywood Road location!
If you are coming from the East do a hike at Catawba Falls or Lookout Mtn, from the South/West try anywhere in Dupont National Forest, particularly Triple Falls.
Afternoon you can't go wrong at Sierra Nevada or New Belgium (the big dogs) but I am personally a fan of Burial and High Wire, along with Terra Nova - get a Romana pizza square.
There are lots of neat spots to stay, but my wife and I loved a recent night at the Kimpton Arras downtown right by Pack Square and if you time it right you could hit some live music before a meal at one of our favorites Limones or Chestnut.
Day 2... The Med for breakfast is right by the hotel, epic diner. Then do another hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway! For lunch try 12 Bones on Sweetens Creek road, and some ice cream from The Hop before heading home.
Catawba Falls —
Plug | Twilight Golf Club
TGC is a member-based, USGA/CGA affiliated golf club that benefits from the freedom of not having a home clubhouse. TGC fosters a fellowship beyond the game and commits to equitable access to golf by creating an environment encouraging golfers of all levels and backgrounds to enjoy the game in the Carolinas and beyond. We have almost 300 members in the Carolinas, host tournaments, social and charity events, and have donated over $60,000 to community need connected to golf in the last 4 years. Follow along at @twilightgolfnc and SAVE THE DATE for our signature event the Twilight Open on July 29th at Reynolds Park which raises money for First Tee - Central Carolina.
Want to get in touch with Stephen? If so, send him a message on Linkedin
P.S. from Rambull — I’ll bookend this week with another incredible legacy and story, that of Muhammad Ali. I haven’t been able to put “Ali, A Life” down since I picked it up. Mainly because I quickly realized how little I knew about one of history’s most famous boxers.
