Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center Namesake Dr. Edwin Cottrell Honored by French Consulate
At 102 years old, the namesake of WCU’s Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Edwin Cottrell, professor emeritus of health and physical education, was honored
on July 9 in Brevard, NC, by the French Consulate for his service during WWII.
Anne-Laure Desjonquères, Atlanta consul general of France, presented Dr. Cottrell with the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s most prestigious order, created by Emperor Napoleon in 1802 to recognize individuals who served France or the ideals it upholds. American veterans who risked their lives fighting on French territory during World War II are eligible for the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honor, which expresses the gratitude of the French people to the American soldiers who helped liberate France between June 6, 1944, and May 8, 1945.
Dr. Cottrell was a fighter pilot during World War II with the 48th Fighter Group and flew 65 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. He received the air medal with eight clusters plus unit and battle citations. After 28 years in the Air Force Reserves, he retired as a Lt. Colonel having served as a Liaison officer to the Air Force Academy.
The event was hosted by the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.
“Dr. Edwin Cottrell is truly an inspiration to all!” said Pattie Diggin M’96, director of the Cottrell Center. “He is so proud of his service in WWII and has come to WCU on several occasions to share his story with our community.”
Dr. Cottrell joined the faculty of what was West Chester State College in 1955 and served as associate dean of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and as professor in the undergraduate and graduate programs. He was the head coach of golf at the institution for 20 years. The naming of the center in 2009 was through the generosity of a gift by Claire and Gary Daniels in honor of Dr. Cottrell, Mr. Daniels’ golf coach.
Diggin noted that, “In addition to his military service, academic career and coaching, ‘Doc’ Cottrell was a successful entrepreneur who launched a video golf training program after he retired from teaching and coaching golf at WCU. He traveled nationally and internationally to promote his program and was particularly successful in Japan where he is well known and respected to this day.
“I’m always amazed and in awe of all that Dr. Cottrell has done and continues to do at the age of 102! Congratulations to him on another well-deserved honor and recognition.”
The Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center fosters entrepreneurship across West Chester University and throughout Chester County by preparing students to contribute to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing access to a rich network of entrepreneurship resources and enhancing the startup and growth of new ventures to develop a strong WCU entrepreneurship culture and a vibrant Chester County entrepreneurship ecosystem.