A Winston-Salem native, Ed graduated from Wake Forest University. He also holds the first ever honorary degree conferred by the North Carolina State University College of Engineering.

A member of United Ways Board of Directors since 2002, Ed served as chair of the 2005 Campaign, an effort that produced over $700,000 in new dollars. He was United Way of North Carolinas 2005 Volunteer of the Year.  Ed was elected to chair United Ways Board of Directors in 2008.

Ed is also active with United Ways partner agencies.  He has served on The Salvation Army Advisory Board for more than a decade, and is a long-time supporter of Exchange/SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now).

He is a champion of education, co-chairing Forsyth Technical Communitys College capital campaign and serving on its board. Ed formerly served on the board of North Carolina State Universitys Engineering Foundation and on the Wake Forest University Babock School of Managements Board of Visitors. He was the recipient of the 2004 North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Award.

Ed chairs the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerces Board of Directors. He has also chaired the board of the local Better Business Bureau and served on its national council.

He and his wife Sue live in Mocksville. They have three adult children: Win, Rob, and Heather; and five grandchildren: Caroline, Edwin, Henry, Sarah Catherine, and David.