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By News Services and Staff Reports December 26

James B. Edwards, South Carolinas first Republican governor since Reconstruction and later energy secretary for two years in the Reagan administration, died Dec.26 at his home in Mount Pleasant, S.C. He was 87.

His son-in-law, Ken Wingate, confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause.

Dr. Edwards, an oral surgeon, helped build the modern Republican Party in South Carolina in the 1960s, serving as Charleston County party chairman and supporting Barry Goldwaters 1964 presidential campaign. He later won a seat in the state senate and then, in 1974, was elected governor.

He was limited to a single four-year term under state law at the time. After his governorship, he came to Washington as President Ronald Reagans energy secretary.

When he entered the 1974 governors race, Dr. Edwards was not sure of his chances in the GOP primary against retired Army Gen. William C. Westmoreland, a well-known figure who had commanded U.S. troops in the Vietnam War. Dr. Edwards won the nomination but was still an underdog in what was then a predominantly Democratic state.

That year, however, Democrats were divided after the state supreme court ruled that the partys leading candidate, Charles D. Pug Ravenel, did not meet residency requirements to run for governor.

Dr. Edwards defeated U.S. Rep. Bryan Dorn, who became the Democratic nominee in a special convention, by about 17,500 votes.

In a 1999 Associated Press interview, Dr. Edwards said he particularly enjoyed working on economic development, education and energy issues as governor. During his tenure, an education finance act was passed and remains the basis for funding elementary and secondary schools in South Carolina.

Anything you wanted, you could ask anyone in the state to help you, Dr. Edwards recalled. I put away partisan politics when I got to Columbia. We had the whole Senate and the House, the vast majority working with us.

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James B. Edwards, S. Carolinas first Republican governor since Reconstruction, dies at 87