David Richard Edwards (January 13, 1938 – January 5, 2013) was an American retired United States Navy officer, businessman, and politician.
Edwards was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Edwards graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.[2]
In the U.S. Navy, Edwards flew more than two hundred combat missions during the Vietnam War. Edwards's military nickname was "Warpaint".[3]
Edwards bought the LaBonte Hotel, a historical hotel.[3]
Edwards moved to Douglas, Wyoming in 1993 and was elected to the city council there. He subsequently served as a commissioner of Converse County. He served in the Wyoming House of Representatives (2001–2008) as the Representative for District 6 as a Republican.[4]
Edwards tendered his letter of resignation on January 6, 2012, to the Converse County Commission after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[5]
He officially stepped down February 1.
On December 26, 2012, Edwards suffered a stroke and died on January 5, 2013, eight days short of his 75th birthday.[3]