Edgar F. Beckham was Wesleyan's first African-American dean of the college. In 1991 he received Wesleyan's Raymond E. Baldwin Medal for service. Posted 05/25/06 Edgar F. Beckham, one of the nation's most influential and beloved leaders in higher education, died Wednesday in Middletown at the age of 72. He was a resident of North Haven. As the first African-American dean of the college at Wesleyan University, Beckham led efforts to build understanding that diversity is integral to excellence in American education. While he served as dean, Wesleyan University became a national model for excellence in education for students of diverse…