By Associated Press
St. Louis, MO – Memorial arrangements are pending for Benjamin Edwards III, who presided over A.G. Edwards as it grew from a St. Louis regional brokerage firm into one of the largest in the nation.
Edwards, of St. Louis, was 77. A spokeswoman for the family says he died Monday of prostate cancer at a home in Naples, Fla.
Edwards was the great-grandson of the company's founder. He joined A.G. Edwards in 1956 and became managing partner a decade later and president in 1967.
Under Edwards' leadership, A.G. Edwards grew from 44 offices in 1965 to nearly 700 by the time he retired in 2001. He was also active in several charitable and civic organizations.
Edwards is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Joan, two sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren and two sisters.