Hosted by Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper

Hey there, JDE Connection listeners! This week, we’re taking a step back in time to explore the rich history of JD Edwards. We’ve talked about the latest tools, innovations, and best practices, but today, we’re diving into the origins of JD Edwards, how the company was built, and the legacy it has created. And who better to guide us through this journey than Ward Quarles, Senior Director of Product Strategy?

Where Did the Name “JD Edwards” Come From?

Ever wondered why the company is called JD Edwards? Ward gave us the inside scoop:

• J&D stands for Jack Thompson and Dan Gregory.
• Edwards is for C. Edward McVaney.
• Fun fact: The name was suggested by Ed McVaney’s wife, Carol!

Founded in 1977 in Denver, Colorado, JD Edwards started as a small company with a vision of delivering standardized accounting software for businesses. The first office was in the Denver Tech Center, and as the company grew, it became known by the iconic 4949 South Syracuse address.

The Founders: Who Were They?

Ward walked us through the backgrounds of JD Edwards’ founders:

• Jack Thompson – The technology visionary. He built the CASE (Computer-Assisted Software Engineering) tools that allowed developers to create JD Edwards applications efficiently. His work laid the foundation for both World and later EnterpriseOne.
• Dan Gregory – The sales leader and strategist who helped bring JD Edwards’ products to customers.
• C. Edward McVaney – The architect of the financial and business applications, shaping the foundation of JD Edwards’ products.
• Bob Newman – Later joined the team, bringing expertise in consulting and implementation.

The Early Days: From Accounting Software to ERP

JD Edwards started with financial applications, including:

• General Ledger
• Accounts Payable & Receivable
• Payroll

It wasn’t long before the company expanded into manufacturing and distribution. One of the biggest innovations was MRP (Material Requirements Planning), which helped companies manage supply chains efficiently.

The Culture of JD Edwards

One of the most fascinating parts of our discussion was the culture that JD Edwards fostered. Ward shared some incredible insights about what it was like to work at JD Edwards in the early days:

• Employees weren’t just developers or salespeople—they were problem solvers.
• After work, teams would head to the bar next door, grab some drinks, and brainstorm new product features on napkins. Many legendary JD Edwards innovations started as sketches on napkins over drinks!
• JD Edwards employees took pride in their work—they used the software they built to run their own company.
• The founders were deeply involved in product development, sales, and customer support.

JD Edwards’ Legacy: Flexibility & Innovation

One of the most impressive aspects of JD Edwards’ history is its commitment to flexibility. From the very beginning, the team recognized that no business operates exactly the same way. That’s why JD Edwards built tools that could be customized, extended, and adapted to different industries and company needs.

This philosophy continues today in JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, where personalization, extensibility, and low-code/no-code tools allow companies to make the software work for them.

Midwesternism of the Day

No episode would be complete with a Midwesternism and this week’s inspiration came from the Farmer’s Market and a clever Minnesota license plate on the back of a golf cart! No, yeah you heard that right!

Join the Conversation

This was just the beginning of our JD Edwards history series. We hope you join us for more history next week. We’d love to hear your JD Edwards history. What’s your favorite JD Edwards memory? Have a story about the early days? Reach out to us at thejdeconnection@questoraclecommunity.org—we’d love to hear from you!

Until next time, let’s keep learning, sharing, and—most importantly—laughing together. Toodles!

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Learn More

Quest Oracle Community is where you learn. Ask questions, find answers, swap stories and connect to other JD Edwards customers and product experts in the JD Edwards Community, where you can also check out what’s happening in the Business Analyst SIG.