Academic Dean, Walter Albert Young received news of Edwards’ passing from the Board of Directors and was asked to step in as Acting President. He was to be in that role until a president could be found. However, he was officially appointed in 1941 continued to serve as president until 1946. He said he felt very comfortable in that role having graduated from Friends University and serving as Academic Dean since 1935. His primary goal was to get Friends reinstated to the North Central Association.