The video is a tribute to Edison Cassels, the 2023 CCDS Alumnus of the Year, featuring multiple speakers—former teammates, trustees, colleagues, and family—who recount his background and contributions. They note his high‑school football success, a University of Georgia education, a law degree, and his role as the third‑generation leader of Edison Ford Construction. Since becoming a trustee in 2013, Edison has been deeply involved in Country Day School projects, famously stepping in to help complete rain‑soaked tennis courts. Speakers praise his ability to unite teams, his quiet, trust‑based leadership, his fiscal prudence, and his high character, describing him as embodying the school’s Buccaneer values and serving as a model for graduates. The overall tone is celebratory, highlighting specific anecdotes that illustrate his impact on the school community.
Chapters
We did play football together, and he was a great high school football player. After he graduated from Georgia, he went on and got a law degree, went to work for his family's construction business, has done a phenomenal job as the 3rd-generation leader of Edison Ford Construction.
It's crazy to see how involved he's gotten with the school in the past few years, and The benefits that have come from it.
For the last 23 years, we've kind of grown up in construction together. Working with Edison is awesome. Edison's the kind of guy that can bring teams together, bring people together. I've seen him serve the school in many different ways. He's brought the players on the school together to kind of get that smooth relationship so things can progress as needed.
Edison personifies what it means to be a Buccaneer. He's a quiet leader who steps up. out whenever he's needed. His leadership style is built on trust, integrity, and follow-through.
I met him in 2008, and then later he became a trustee in 2013. We were redoing our tennis courts that year, and I don't know if you remember, but it rained every day that summer. And so I got behind, and I mean, I really got behind. So this young trustee named Edison Castle drives up And he looks and he says, Mancos, looks like you're in a mess. Edison jumped in and helped me with the tennis courts. And I'm not saying he stopped it from raining, but he helped me get the tennis courts completed. He'll make a decision to move forward. He recognizes problems very quickly and will help you solve it.
One thing I will say, funny thing, he is tight. He is tight with the dollar. I mean, he understands the value of the dollar, which is a great thing as he's running the buildings and ground. And of course, here we are at Country Day and probably in the midst of the largest construction capital projects that we've ever done in the history of the school. So he brings a lot of good value and looks for good value for the school.
I think he's more smart with money than tight. So he'll buy something if it's a necessity or we need it, but if it's just something you want, then we'll go through like the pros and cons of it and decide through that whether it's a necessary purchase.
I would sum Edison up as somebody who, you Solid.
High character. He's one of these guys, when he talks to you, I mean, he just kind of looks right through you, and he's totally focused on you.
I am just so delighted that Edison's getting this award today because he also is one of the great Country Day champions.
He's the kind of leader we aspire to shape at Country Day. Quite frankly, the kind of leader our mission seeks to develop in our graduates. Congratulations, Edison.
I just want to say, love you, Dad. Congratulations.
