Ed Pearson, 1960
Dr. Edmond Pearson born November 20, 1942 and passed away January 2, 2023.
Dr. Pearson is survived by his wife Laura Bishop-Pearson and daughter-Edmunda Renee Pearson.
Editor’s Note: The following was previously published on the website and tells us about the many life achievements of Ed Pearson.
After graduating from East High in 1960, Ed Pearson went on to serve as a marine, a homicide detective, a lawyer, an IT professor, and an ordained minister. He had participated in 1950s civil rights activities in Wichita. Friends University published the profile below, highlighting Ed’s impact on students at Friends U and his extraordinary mix of careers and credentials.
“Dr. Ed Pearson joined the Friends University faculty in August 2002 as an instructor of business. He has contributed significantly to the lives and careers of students. His breadth of knowledge in numerous fields has made him an outstanding teacher for traditional students, adult undergraduates, and graduate students. His service, guidance, and friendship focuses within and extends well beyond Friends University. Many students, especially athletes, connected with Dr. Pearson during their time at the University and have remained connected beyond their graduation. His approach is humble and coupled with the ethos of the marine. He studied and taught law, business, and technology courses, and he added to his studies a degree in theology to serve God and the community as an ordained Baptist preacher. Overall, his tremendous capacity enables him to reach into each student’s life and guide each student to accomplish much. This is his greatest gift.
“Dr. Edmond L. Pearson, Professor of Business and Information, has taught in the College of Business, Arts, Sciences, and Education, the College of Adult and Professional Studies, and the Graduate School since he joined Friends University in 2002. A Marine Corps veteran, he was an investigator for the Inspector General at the Department of Employment and then a homicide detective/investigator in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in New York City. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Education at Fordham University in New York City. He attended law school and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Dr. Pearson later completed a Masters of Management Information Systems degree at Friends University and a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, also at Friends. He was ordained as a Baptist minister in August 2014. He was the first African-American male to join the faculty at Friends University.”
May the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace