Feb. 10, 2006--Edward G. Jefferson of Greenville, former chairman and chief executive officer of the DuPont Co. and University of Delaware trustee emeritus, died Thursday, Feb. 9, at the age of 84.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 13, at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville.

Dr. Jefferson served as chairman and chief executive officer of DuPont from 1981-86 and served on the company's board of directors from 1973-1992.

He was elected to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees in 1980 and served until 1997, when he retired and was awarded trustee emeritus status.

“Ed Jefferson was a great friend to the University of Delaware and to me personally, as well,” UD President David P. Roselle said. “He served on the University's Board of Trustees for nearly 20 years, offering his wise counsel on a wide range of areas from the sciences and engineering to the arts and humanities, and for several years, he served as the board's vice chairman. When he retired from the board in 1997, he was awarded the special status of trustee emeritus.

“His connection to the University did not end with his board service. He continued to offer his service, including playing a valuable leadership role in our Campaign for Delaware. In 2000, he and his wife, Wunnie, donated a new state-of-the-art pipe organ to the University for use in the renovated Bayard Sharp Hall. That gift was the perfect example of their generous sprit and a most fitting expression of the Jeffersons' love of music. I know that gift will continue to bring delight to audiences on our campus for many years to come.

“His loss is deeply felt by his many friends at the University, and our thoughts go out to his family at this time.”

During his years of distinguished service on the UD board, Dr. Jefferson chaired the Nominating, Compensation, Science, Agriculture and Engineering, and Arts and Humanities committees. Furthermore, he served on the Executive and Finance committees and the Investment, Audit, Performing Arts and Visual Arts visiting committees.

Jefferson chaired the Corporate and Foundation Committee of UD's 150th anniversary capital campaign, was instrumental in ensuring continued excellence in the chemistry curriculum as adviser to the Excellence in Chemistry Campaign, and played an important role in the recently completed Campaign for Delaware, which raised $431 million, far beyond the original goal of $225 million.

Jefferson was vice chairman of the board for many years and in 1991 he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Science degree from UD. The citation described him as a "forward-thinking corporate leader, valuable asset to the business community, possessor of a keen and insightful mind, a hardworking and generous friend to the community, an active champion of higher education and a respected benefactor and adviser."

He was cited for his service, and "the unparalleled stature he brought to the University and the board," according to the resolution read by Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr., then chairman of the board.

In accepting trustee emeritus status, Dr. Jefferson said, " I have a strong feeling that people here in the University today and those that are being taught to provide intellectual leadership for tomorrow will do well in the conditions that obtain in the next decades ahead, and will approach the opportunities and problems with a good blend of wisdom and energy."

Dr. Jefferson was born in London, England, and served in the British Royal Artillery in World War II, participating in the Normandy invasion in 1944. He graduated from King's College, University of London, with first-class honors in chemistry, where he also earned a doctoral degree.

Dr. Jefferson joined DuPont in 1951 at the Belle Works near Charleston, W.Va., and nine years later transferred to Wilmington where he held a number of management and executive positions in research and development.

In 1973, he was appointed a director, senior vice president and member of the company's Executive Committee, and in 1978 he was given responsibility for the coordination and direction of all research and development activities for the company.

Dr. Jefferson was named president and chief operating officer on Jan. 1, 1980, and became chairman and chief executive officer on May 1, 1981. He retired from DuPont as chairman and chief executive officer on May 5, 1986.

“Ed Jefferson exemplified the importance our company places on science, and his leadership and insights throughout his career at DuPont helped shape the direction our company is taking today. We were greatly enriched by knowing and working with him at DuPont,” DuPont Chairman and CEO Chad Holliday said.

Holliday added, “Ed's accomplishments at DuPont were numerous, but he will be long remembered for identifying the importance that biotechnology would play in the future growth of the company. He will also be remembered for the importance he placed on recognizing and preserving our company's history for the benefit of future leaders and others in business.”

In addition to his wife, Wunnie, Dr. Jefferson is survived by sons Charles D. Jefferson of Charlottesville, Va., and Andrew McKinley Jefferson and his wife, Heather, of Wilmington; and grandsons Peter M. Jefferson, Charles D. Jefferson Jr. and Marshall Edward Jefferson. He was predeceased by two sons, Peter Love Jefferson and Edward G. Jefferson Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the University of Delaware, Department of Music, Newark, DE 19716.