
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994                   TAG: 9406020142
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON AT PATRICK HENRY

Patrick Henry High School's class of 1994 is a "super group," said guidance counselor Martha Gravely. These days, she said, there are so many sports and activities in which students can participate that it's hard to single out one particular student for recognition.

One graduate, however, is in a situation Gravely said she hasn't seen before.

Jack Edwards, 18, is the son of John Edwards, who was recently elected to Roanoke City Council. Like his father, who also graduated from Patrick Henry, he was president of the school during his senior year. For the previous three years, the younger Edwards was president of his class. His duties included organizing dances, volunteer projects and other activities.

"I just wanted to do something good for the school," he said.

Both Edwardses also are pole vaulters. John Edwards, who had five or six years of experience, was a state champion, while Jack, who has been vaulting for three years, has come in first or second in almost every local competition in which he has participated. Last year, he said, he finished in the top 10 in the state.

Pole vaulting is "lots of fun," Edwards said. "You get over your fear of what might happen."

Unfortunately, he has not been able to give pole vaulting all of his attention. Edwards also plays soccer for the Roanoke Star and is the captain of Patrick Henry's cross country team.

His classes keep him busy, too, but, "I like the sports more," he said. "I'm not too crazy about the academics."

Despite his preference for sports, Edwards makes all A's and B's and attends both the Governor's School and City School. But unlike some students, who seem to be able to coast through difficult classes, Edwards said he has to work hard for his grades.

As for his political ambitions, Edwards helped his father with his City Council campaign by passing out literature, but "it was kind of crazy," he said. "I don't know if I'd want to do it or not."

Edwards will go to Princeton University in the fall, as his father did, and is thinking of preparing for law school. He hopes to play club soccer, but is not sure yet if he will try out for pole vaulting.

Edwards is modest about his achievements. Nancy Ruth Patterson, his teacher at City School, said he appears to be quiet and shy, but he is very popular with the other students.

"He's an outstanding person," Gravely said.

Edwards never consciously set out to follow in his father's footsteps, he said. "I'm not trying to. It just worked out that way. But it's not a negative."

by CNB