David J. Edmondson (born June 10, 1959) is an American businessman, known for his career at RadioShack and his termination as CEO for falsifying his educational background.
Early life and education
David J. Edmondson was born June 10, 1959, in Methuen, Massachusetts. His mother Jeannette was a homemaker, and his adoptive father was a US soldier.[citation needed] Like most children of military families, Edmondson moved a great deal throughout his early life, including periods in Germany and Fort Jackson, South Carolina, before settling at Fort Carson, Colorado, in 1968, where Edmondson remained until his graduation from Alpha Omega Christian School in 1977.
Edmondson moved to San Dimas, California, in 1977 where he attended Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College (PCBBC). While at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College, Edmondson began his study to become a Baptist minister. Edmondson left California after one year on campus and returned to Colorado where he became the associate pastor of Security Baptist Temple, in Security, Colorado. He continued his studies through correspondence with PCBBC and claimed he earned his ThG (Graduate of Theology) in May 1980.[1][2][3]
Although he has attended several colleges, he does not currently hold any academic degrees.[4]
Career
After his ordination, Edmondson relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, where he founded the Twin Cities Baptist Church. He started the church in a borrowed space donated by an Omaha businessman.
In 1982, Edmondson returned to Colorado Springs and attempted to start another church. The second church was not successful and Edmondson left the full-time ministry.
In 1983, Edmondson again relocated, this time to Cleveland, Ohio, and went to work for direct mail advertising company ADVO System, Inc. While serving as national account marketing executive, Edmondson worked on developing and implementing marketing programs with various divisions of Tandy Corporation, including its RadioShack Division.
RadioShack
Edmondson held positions as vice president of marketing (1994–1995), senior vice president of marketing and advertising (1995–1997), executive vice president and chief operating officer (1997–2000), president and chief operating officer (2000–2005) and chief executive officer (2005-2006).
Arrests, newspaper investigation, resignation
In January 2005, shortly after RadioShack announced that Edmondson would be taking over as CEO, he was arrested in Southlake, Texas, for driving while intoxicated, his third such charge. Edmondson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.[5] The incident prompted the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to begin looking more closely at his past.[6]
Edmondson resigned in February 2006, after the Star-Telegram disclosed that he had falsified his résumé and biography, claiming two non-existent college degrees.[6][4][7]
Post-RadioShack
In 2007, Edmondson founded EasySale, an Internet-based consignment and liquidation company based in Arlington, Texas. In 2009, he co-founded and became CEO of E-Recycling Corps (now HYLA Mobile), an enterprise engaged in the collection, refurbishment and global redistribution of used wireless devices. According to Pitchbook-October 1, 2018, HYLA Mobile is the most valuable venture capital backed company in the State of Texas, valued at $650 million.[8][9] According to the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) filing on March 3, 2021, Edmondson became a member of the board of directors for the blank checkSPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) Aeon Acquisition Corp. managing $125 million dollars. [10][11]
^Kharif, Olga (May 7, 2012). "SecurityMobileStartups Search As Yahoo Discusses CEO, What Became of Other Execs in Trouble?". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 20, 2013. In 2006, RadioShack Corp. ousted Chief Executive Officer David Edmondson after he admitted he lied about his education. He claimed to have earned degrees in theology and psychology from Pacific Coast College in California, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
^Case, Brendan M. "Troubled RadioShack to close up to 700 stores". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 20, 2013. Edmondson has maintained that he received a theology degree from an unaccredited California institution called Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College, which later relocated to Oklahoma and renamed itself Heartland Baptist Bible College.
^ abNorris, Floyd (February 21, 2006). "RadioShack Chief Resigns After Lying". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2013. Mr. Edmondson, in an interview with The Star-Telegram on Feb. 10, had conceded he did not have two degrees, and that the degree he said he did have was not a bachelor's degree, as he had claimed in the résumé he gave RadioShack when he was hired in 1994. But he insisted he had one degree, a Th.G., a theology degree that the college, now known as the Heartland Baptist Bible College, awards after three years of study. The newspaper said the college said its records showed he had attended for two semesters, but did not graduate.
