A native of Minnesota, Edwin William Rawlings graduated from Hamline University with a degree in economics. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1929 and twenty-five years later, he became one of the Air Forces' youngest generals. Always interested in various business issues, Rawlings earned an MBA from Harvard and in 1946 was named as air comptroller to assist in the organization of that office for the Air Force. He was so successful in that position that the idea of a comptroller for all three services was then adopted. Rawlings took over command of the Air Material Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1951 where he managed procurement and logistics efforts for seven years. General Rawlings retired from the Air Force in 1959 and started his second career with General Mills where he became president of the company in 1961. He retired from General Millis in 1969 but remained a director and member of the board until 1976. Edwin Rawlings died at the age of 93 in Auburn, Washington. In 1981, the General Edwin W. Rawlings Award was established which recognized energy conservation achievements in the Air Force. Today that award is given to an outstanding technician or manager in Air Force environmental matters.
From the description of Edwin W. Rawlings collection, 1927-1983. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 744462806
