By Sammy BattenThe Fayetteville Observer
Junior Edge once outscored an opposing basketball team all by himself, produced a 21-0 record as a pitcher in two seasons and led the University of North Carolina football team to a share of its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
To say Edge was one of the greatest athletes to develop in Cumberland County is an understatement. He was also a dedicated public servant, businessman and family man.
Edge passed away Saturday morning at age 79 surrounded by family members.
Lee Spruill, Edge’s nephew, described his uncle as a man’s man who displayed his soft side often to his family and friends.
“Growing up you didn’t realize you had a legend and an All-American as an uncle,’’ Spruill said. “He was such a big, strong kind of guy. But as we got older and you’d reach out your hand to shake, he wouldn’t do it. He’d pull you in, give you a big hug and tell you he loved you. He taught us a lot about being a strong person, a strong man, a great athlete and still show love to your family.’’
The oldest son of B. Melton and Mary Isabelle Edge was an athletic marvel in the late 1950s at old Massey Hill High School, starring in football, basketball and baseball.
On the basketball court, Edge tossed in 41 points and had 15 rebounds as a junior to lead Massey Hill to a 72-35 rout of Tar Heel. He sparked the school to back-to-back state baseball championships in 1958 and 1959 with his 21-0 pitching mark that featured a no-hitter in the ‘58 title game against Myers Park.
But it was as a quarterback-safety-kicker in football that Edge would become a national caliber athlete. An all-state pick and one of 66 players selected to the prep All-American team as a senior, Edge received scholarship offers from Duke and East Carolina, but chose to play for his childhood favorite, North Carolina.
Edge’s exploits at Massey Hill made him a drawing card for sports fans in Fayetteville and throughout the Cape Fear region.
“When I was in grad school at UNC Pembroke, Dr. Charles Jenkins was one of my professors,’’ Spruill said. “Somehow he figured out I was related to the Edge family and asked if I was related to Junior. I said, ‘Yes, sir. He’s my uncle.’
“He went on to tell me he went to Hamlet (High) and that anytime Massey Hill was playing anywhere near there people would flock to the games to see him play. It didn’t matter if Massey Hill was winning or losing, they’d come to watch him run the ball. It was cool hearing stories like that.’’
Recruited to UNC by coach Jim Tatum, Edge would start at safety and was second among Atlantic Coast Conference players in interceptions as a sophomore in 1961 with seven. The following year Edge took over as the starting quarterback while still playing safety. But it was the 1963 season in which his accomplishments at quarterback were among the best in UNC history.
Among Edge’s achievements that season were:
- Out-dueled three All-American quarterbacks in helping the Tar Heels defeat Miami, Georgia and Air Force.
- Was a catalyst for UNC’s first winning season since 1958 and the most victories since 1948.
- Helped the Tar Heels to a share of their first Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
- Led UNC to a 35-0 rout of Air Force in the Gator Bowl that was the school’s first-ever postseason victory.
- Was named All-ACC at quarterback.
Edge capped his UNC career by winning the 1967 Jim Tatum Memorial Award given annually to the Tar Heel athlete who distinguished himself on and off the field.
Former North Carolina linebacker and ex-Tar Heel head football coach John Bunting was among those who reached out to the family via a Facebook post when news of Edge’s death spread Saturday.
“A favorite Tar Heel of mine!’’ Bunting said.
Current UNC head coach Mack Brown also offered his condolences in a statement provided by the school.
“Junior is a really important part of Carolina football’s history,” Brown said. “He was an excellent player and a wonderful person. I really enjoyed having the chance to coach his son Trey. Junior will be missed and we send our condolences to his family and friends.”
After a brief run in the Canadian Football League, Edge returned home to Fayetteville where he would serve on the Cumberland County Board of Education and helped run the Lafayette Lanes bowling center for many years.
Edge also kept his hand in athletics by serving as a color commentator for local high school football radio broadcasts. His son, Trey, a former walk-on football player at UNC, is now the radio play-by-play announcer for Terry Sanford High football.
“He taught me how to throw a football in the middle of my grandparents front yard in Massey Hill,’’ Spruill said. “He was just always so loving and caring. We’ve been very blessed to have him as long as we have.’’
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at sbatten@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3534.
VIA: https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/2020/08/29/cumberland-legend-ex-unc-football-player-junior-edge-dies/5668472002/
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