He joined the United States Army in c. 1917, serving in World War I and playing on a military service football team.

His profile in The Ponca City News said the following: "Gus [Edmondson] made his "O" in the Piker battle at St. Louis, relieving Deacon in the first half, and he has played every minute of every game since.

The youngest lineman in point of Sooner service, weighs 204 pounds, he puts every ounce of it into fight and the opposition finds him a very tough proposition to run a play through, in fact a play over him is seldom successful.

Following his junior year, in which he earned a letter and was named honorable mention all-conference, he was selected as the team's alternative captain for the 1922 season.

[2] At the start of his senior season, Howard Marsh, the captain-elect, was declared ineligible, making Edmondson team captain.