His latest is Ball State's Lawhead Award for Teaching in the University Core Curriculum. The award is based upon a teaching evaluation, contribution to the core curriculum, freshman activities, service to the community and support letters from faculty and students.

Tom Lowe, associate provost and dean of University College, said the award recognizes Edmonds' leadership in Ball State's general education program for all undergraduates.

"Tony is an inspiring teacher and has compiled an impressive record of contributions to the University Core Curriculum," Lowe said. "For example, in the past 30 years he has spoken to more than 200,000 parents and incoming first-year students in orientation about the value of general education."

Edmonds has received 10 teaching awards during his 35-year Ball State career. Most notably, last October the Association of Liberal and General Studies named him one of the two best liberal arts professors in America.

"Of all the teaching awards I've won, this is perhaps the most meaningful because I think the heart of the mission of Ball State lies in general education and the core curriculum," Edmonds said. "As the president said in her talk at the Freshman Convocation, the most important part of an education is learning to think clearly and critically, and this process begins with the core curriculum."

Edmonds also treasures receiving an award named in honor of a former mentor. Victor B. Lawhead is a former dean of undergraduate programs and his wife, Doris J. Lawhead, is a former academic adviser.

"It was Vic Lawhead who hired me in 1974 to give the general education presentation at orientation. I also served as his summer assistant for several years," Edmonds said. "It was a joy to work for this gentle, brilliant man who loves nothing better than to talk about important ideas with students, faculty and fellow-administrators alike."

Edmonds is author or co-author of six books, including a biography of prizefighter Joe Louis and a history of the Vietnam War. Also included are histories of Ball State and Cardinal basketball and a study of the friendship between Dwight Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. He is currently co-editing the collected correspondence of Eisenhower and Macmillan.

Ball State's leading professors teach in the core curriculum, as shown by the fact that the history department can boast of two previous Lawhead Award recipients, Edmonds said.

"I will proudly place the plaque I received in the main history office, next to the Lawhead Award plaques won by John Barber and Abel Alves," he said.