1984
Citation:
Diane J. Edgecomb is president of The Central Business District Association, an organization of businesses that work together to make the downtown district a vital place to live, work and play. Raised in Detroit from age 11, she began her working career while still a teenager. She came to the Central Business District Association after working ten years as a switchboard operator at the Buhl Building. In 1955, she was hired by the CBDA as a promotion director and she advanced through the ranks over the year to executive vice president and finally in 1978 to president.
Ms. Edgecomb is largely responsible for the plan and ideas which have revitalized the downtown Detroit area in recent years. Her accomplishments include implementation of the Riverfront Ethnic Festivals, Downtown Detroit Days, Detroit Aglow and the lighting of the Ambassador Bridge and Mainer’s Church. Under her direction the CBDA has maintained its stewardship tasks in crime, parking, transit and clean up. She has expanded their concerns to include lighting, new business recruitment and new building development.
Ms. Edgecomb has served on the Mayor’s Physical Improvement Steering Committee, the Board of the University of Detroit and is a member and past president of the Municipal Parking Authority Advisory Commission. She developed and implemented a three year Teen Public Affairs Program at Cass Technical High School.
She has received various honors and awards including the Matilda R. Wilson Award of Honor in 1982. In 1975 she was named Soroptimist Woman of the Year and selected by the Detroit Free Press as one of Detroit’s Ten Most Influential Women. In 1981 Ms. Edgecomb was named Michiganian of the Year.
Currently she serves on the boards of the Downtown Development Authority, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Ethnic Festival Steering Committee, Move Detroit Forward and the Greater Detroit Round Table of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Inc.
Award was presented at the Works of Mercy Dinner, 1984.