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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