A native of Hendersonville, North Carolina, Ed was the starting forward on the 1948 and 1949 state championship basketball teams, a high school All-American wingback on the football team and is a member of the Hendersonville High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. He received a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee and was a member of the 1951 National Championship team. He also lettered in track at UT, winning the Tennessee State University Division in the 100- and 220-yard sprints in 1952. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, then served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps Railway Command as a 1st Lieutenant.
Ed married his high school sweetheart, Gail Grimes in 1953 and returned to the University of Tennessee to obtain a second degree in electrical engineering. Ed and Gail, along with their two children, son Michael and daughter Kelly, moved to Merritt Island, Florida in 1965 where he worked for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. He finished his career at NASA, retiring as Division Chief of Facilities and Systems.
He is survived by his wife Gail, son Michael, daughter Kelly, daughter-in-law Jody, granddaughters Katy Beth and Amanda, son-in-law Dan, and grandsons Kyle and Mack.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Ed to the Capital Campaign-1951 Championship Team, UT Foundation, 1551 Lake Louden Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37996.
