Roll Call Tribute

John H. Edwards, III 
December 10, 1929 - February 8, 2023

John H. ("Trey") Edwards, III, died February 8, 2023 at his home in Southlake Texas.

Trey was born December 10, 1929 to Jack (John H. Edwards, Jr.) and Frances "Sam" Edwards.

Trey would become the third generation of Edwards family cattle ranchers who began ranching in Ward county in 1911.

Trey graduated from Monahans High School and attended Texas A&M College (University). Trey was a member of the Corps of Cadets and an inaugural member of the Texas Aggie Fish Drill Team.

After graduating Texas A&M in 1951, Trey was commissioned as an officer and attended flight training, earning his wings as an army aviator serving in Korea, flying the L-19 "Bird Dog".

After completing his service in The Army, he returned to west Texas and became a partner with his father, Jack, to manage the Edwards ranching interests in Ward, Crane, Ector and Andrews counties.

In 1958, Trey married Barbara Martin and they moved into the new JJ Ranch headquarters Jack had built southeast of Monahans, where they started a family. Trey and Barbara had 3 sons, John H. ("J") Edwards IV, Martin Lee Edwards and Tom Gary Edwards.

Following Jack's death in 1964, Trey expanded the ranching operations in several surrounding counties. Trey continued his passion for flying, later purchasing several Cessna 180 airplanes and modifying oil field roads to serve as landing strips, so he could use his Cessna 180 to check waterings and inspect ranches in other counties.

During roundups, there were many times Trey would fly his plane to help cowboys catch strays and he would drop notes inside Folgers coffee cans to tell the cowboys where the strays were located. This became such a frequent event that the Sheriff's department would request Trey inform them when he was working cattle so they would not be alarmed over the low level flying southeast of Monahans.

Trey was foremost a Rancher and steward of the land. Trey understood that Ranchers and oil producers must coexist to survive in West Texas, and he always sought out a solution to issues that benefited both sides.

Trey was a steadfast believer in the Rancher's creed of "neighboring". Whenever a neighbor called, Trey was always there to help, loan equipment and hired hands or even use his plane.

Trey was always looking for ways to improve the grazing potential of the mesquite laden Sandhills that made up the Ranch. Trey worked with the Texas Agriculture Extension Service in experimenting with mesquite eradication techniques to improve pastures, erosion control, rotational grazing and later participated in the development of a municipal water field for the city of Crane.

Trey followed his Father's calling as a member of the Monahans School Board during the 1970's, proudly representing the namesake Edwards Elementary School where Trey was instrumental in his years as a board member in bringing special needs education to Monahans.

Trey moved his personal residence from Monahans to Midland in the late 1970's in order to manage other family interests in Midland and lived there until 1999, when he moved to Mansfield and thereafter to a retirement complex in Southlake.

Trey maintained a role in management of the JJ ranch until his death, while the next generations continue to operate cattle on the Ranch today.

Trey was always an even-tempered man and never met a stranger. His passion in life was flying airplanes, ranching and later traveling the world with Barbara.

Trey was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, and is survived by his 3 sons J, Lee and Tom, several grandchildren and great-grand grandchildren and his sister Ellen Edwards Green.

Memorials or donations may be made to the John H. Edwards, III '51 Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Texas A&M University at tx.ag/TreyEdwards  or the West Texas Boys Ranch, 10223 Boys Ranch Rd., San Angelo, TX 76904.