Edwin L. Cox, Sr.

SMU and the Cox School mourn the passing of renowned Dallas business leader, entrepreneur, public servant, educational pioneer and longtime University supporter and trustee emeritus Edwin L. Cox, Sr. ’42, who died Thursday, November 5, 2020.

 

Read the SMU tribute honoring Mr. Cox

Edwin Cox’s contributions to and enthusiasm for this University and the Cox School of Business are invaluable. He was a tremendous presence and an inspiring influence for every person who crossed his path, and his work with and for his community has reached across generations and over great distances.

- R. Gerald Turner, SMU President

 
Warmth, dignity and positivity emanated from him. His presence convinced me that I wanted to move to Dallas and wanted to work with him to take the Cox School to even greater heights. Ed Cox epitomized the can-do spirit that defines the Cox School, SMU and Dallas.

- Matthew B. Myers, Dean of the Cox School

 
Ed Cox was a visionary, and he was passionate about continuous improvement. With his support, we were able to focus on raising student quality in all of our programs and providing leadership training across our curriculum.

– Albert W. Niemi, Former Dean of the Cox School

"Ed Cox epitomized the can-do spirit that defines the Cox School, SMU and Dallas."

 

Celebrating a True Visionary: Edwin L. Cox, Sr.

On October 15, 2020, as part of celebrating 100 years of business education at SMU, the SMU Cox School of Business honored Edwin L. Cox, Sr. ’42 with the inaugural Cox Visionary Award for his extraordinary leadership and contributions to the business community. Mr. Cox, for whom SMU’s business school was named in 1978, exemplifies the vision, civic engagement and can-do spirit that inspire the best in all of us today and shape the business world changers of tomorrow.