Ed Adams Leadership Development Symposium (Remarks) Tonight marks the first time that the Leadership Development Symposium is known as the Ed Adams Leadership Development Symposium. As many of you know, Ed was a 2004 graduate of the HSMP program and a close friend to so many. Ed passed away in October leaving a beautiful wife – April, who is also an HSMP alumnus – a precious baby girl and many, many dear family and friends. As a fellow graduate, and one who had the privilege to call Ed “friend”, I’ve been asked to provide a few remarks. The book of Philippians begins in chapter 1, verse 3 with “I thank my God every time I remember you”…and it’s where I begin this evening. I thank God for Ed Adams. I’m thankful for Ed because without his leadership we wouldn’t be here tonight. There was a small gathering of officers that met about eight years ago and Ed, our President, pitched the idea of coordinating a professional development dinner with a nationally recognized speaker. Wow…I was thinking it would be cool if our student group went camping – but Ed had a much bigger vision. Months later we gathered together and listened to Kevin Lofton speak at the first LDS. What an incredible night that was…and Ed made it happen…he was a natural leader and everyone could see it. I’m thankful for Ed’s friendship. Before classes even started, Ed and I met at a local restaurant to watch the Buckeyes play. Ed was new to Columbus and we had met each other through an email blast to our incoming first-year class. In those first couple hours we shared life…and, we shared wings. I pulled into the parking lot not knowing a thing about Ed…and I left that day with a friend. That friendship grew to a place where he felt less like a friend and more like a brother. I’ve had conversations with Ed that I’ve not had with any other person. Ed managed to form very deep connections with people in a remarkably short period of time. There was something about his smile, his laugh (which could almost rival a Loebs belly-buster), and his genuine personality that made every new encounter a friendship. I’m not alone in that feeling: Ed’s Facebook page lists over 2,250 friends…and you can find current posts on his wall today. One of the most telling indications of how much he impacted people around him was at his funeral this past fall. There were lines of cars on the roads leading to the church and lines of people waiting to get inside. Ed touched lives because he was a friend…and those he touched are better today because of it. Finally, I’m thankful for Ed’s faith. It was very appropriate for me to begin these remarks with Scripture because that’s where Ed began and ended each day…his faith was apparent in everything he did. After graduating from our program, Ed worked for several years in healthcare before heeding the call to pursue being a pastor. And boy could he preach. And not just in church! Often times I’d hang up the phone with Ed and feel like I was walking out of Sunday service! There was no mistake Who Ed lived his life for…he was bold in a time when it’s increasingly not politically correct to be so…and yet I don’t think it offended anyone because it was so real and because he cared so deeply for those around him. There are so many good things that flowed out of Ed’s life – and all of them flowed as a result of his faith in Jesus Christ. The following verses in Philippians read: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Ed completed a good life. I’m thankful for that life…I’m thankful for the impact that it continues to make on mine. And I’m thankful that the students have recognized Ed by renaming the Leadership Development Symposium after him. Ed would be proud to be here tonight to see this – thank you for continuing this event in his honor – and, thank you for providing a few moments for us to remember him this evening. Jamie Cleverly, MHA ‘04 The Ohio State University Health Services Management and Policy President, HSMP Alumni Society