- Volume 61 , Number 1
- Page: 112
William Robert Edgar, B.Sc, M.B.A. may 12, 1942-july 20, 1992
Bill Edgar, President of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) and General Director of The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI), died suddenly in his home at Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England, on 20 July 1992 from complications of a cancer diagnosed only 4 weeks earlier.
Bill was born in 1942 in Sydney, Australia, where his father was active in The Leprosy Mission for 26 years until his death in 1963. He earned a Bachelor of Economics degree from Monash University and a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne University. From 1963-1977 Bill was Honorary Member of the Governing Body of The Leprosy Mission, Australia. He pursued a highly successful business career in Australia from 1964-1980, culminating as Managing Director of a large international manufacturing and marketing company in the electrical industry. He served as Executive Director, The Leprosy Mission, Australia, from 1977-1980.
In 1980 Bill, his wife Mary, and their daughters, Narcllc and Dclise, transferred to London to undertake the duties of Communications Director for TLMI. Upon the retirement of Eddie Askew in 1987, Bill undertook the responsibilities of General Director, TLMI. In 1990 he was elected to serve as President of ILEP for the 1992-1994 term. At the time of his death he held Directorships of The Leprosy Mission Corporation, U.K.; The Leprosy Mission India Trust; the Board of Governors, Schicffclin Leprosy Research and Training Center, Karigiri, India; and the Board of Governors, All Africa Leprosy and Rehabilitation Training Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Bill Edgar was a remarkable man. He combined spiritual leadership with sound business knowledge and an infectious enthusiasm for getting the job done and getting it done well. The benefits of his labor and skills have touched thousands of leprosy sufferers. We will all miss his leadership, and his fellowship. - RCH