Bill Edwards (businessman)

William L. Edwards
Born Edward Francis Sylvia[1]
Nationality American
Occupation Real estate developer

Bill Edwards is an American businessman. He owns numerous properties in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Biography

Edwards grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts.[1] Edwards fought with the Marines during the Vietnam War, earning a Purple Heart.[1] After the war, Edwards moved to Detroit and entered the mortgage business.[1] Born Edward Francis Sylvia III, he changed his name to William Larry Edwards when he moved to Detroit.[2]

Edwards served as president of Mortgage Investors Corp.,[3] which the Tampa Bay Times described as the "nation's largest VA mortgage lender in 2005.[4] In 2013, the Edwards-owned Mortgage Investors was fined $7.5 million for violating the federal do not call list.[5] That same year, Edwards negotiated a sale of Mortgage Investors to HomeBancorp,[6] but the deal was never completed.[5] After the failure of the deal, Mortgage Investors stopped making new home loans and laid off the majority of its staff.[7] In 2015, the United States Department of Justice and two mortgage brokers sued Edwards, alleging that Mortgage Investors defrauded veteran home buyers and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.[8]

In 2011, Edwards bought the BayWalk in downtown St. Petersburg. In 2014, the BayWalk reopened as Sundial St. Pete.[9]

In 2013, Edwards bought a controlling interest in the Tampa Bay Rowdies, an NASL team.[10] Edwards hopes to move the Rowdies up to Major League Soccer, the league one tier above the NASL.[11] Edwards operates the Al Lang Stadium for the city of St. Petersburg, and owns the nearby McNulty Station parking garage and a Rowdies-themed bar and restaurant.[11]

In 2009, Edwards bought the Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club.[1] In 2011, he won the right to manage the Mahaffey Theater.[1] Edwards also owns Big 3 Entertainment, which has produced records for artists such as Cheap Trick.[6] In 2014, Edwards bought a block of St. Petersburg known as the Tropicana Block.[12]

Political activities

Edwards donated $1 million to the campaign of Florida Governor Rick Scott and $4.6 million to the 2012 Republican National Convention.[1] Edwards donated $350,000 to the presidential candidacy of Jeb Bush.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Snow Smith, Katherine (April 30, 2014). "Bill Edwards builds a South Pinellas empire: 'I get things done'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  2. Snow Smith, Katherine (April 18, 2011). "Financier and philanthropist Bill Edwards amps up entertainment empire". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  3. Eilperin, Juliet (July 6, 1998). "EX-CONGRESSIONAL AIDE STYMIES VA MORTGAGE REFINANCING RULES". Washington Post. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  4. Nohlgren, Stephen (August 14, 2005). "The small parcel that scuttled a $10M deal". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Harrington, Jeff (June 28, 2013). "Bill Edwards' Mortgage Investors Corp. hit with record FTC fine". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Harrington, Jeff (January 25, 2013). "Tampa's HomeBancorp buys Bill Edwards' Mortgage Investors Corp.". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  7. Harrington, Jeff (October 14, 2013). "Mortgage Investors Corp. lays off nearly 500, stops making new loans". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  8. Snow Smith, Katherine (August 25, 2015). "Lawsuit alleges Bill Edwards drained mortgage compan". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  9. Snow Smith, Katherine (April 15, 2014). "Sundial has 7 confirmed tenants; who else might land in St. Pete?". Tampa Bay Time. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  10. Cashill, Margaret (December 12, 2013). "Bill Edwards buys controlling interest in Tampa Bay Rowdies". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Girardi, Steven (February 9, 2015). "Rowdies' owner buys garage, restaurant with fans in mind". Tampa Bay Tribune. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  12. Snow Smith, Katherine (April 16, 2014). "Bill Edwards buys prime downtown St. Petersburg block". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  13. Manning, Margie (August 3, 2015). "Bill Edwards leads Tampa Bay donors for PAC backing Jeb Bush". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
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