From a young age, Ed was fascinated with anything that had a motor, dreaming of the day he could drive. Always pushing the limits, he received his first moving violation ticket at the age of 12 for driving his parents' car up and down the alley by their home.
Ed loved hearing reports from the rally car events his parents participated in and enjoyed attending events at Skagit Speedway. He could hardly contain his excitement when he learned he was going to California to see the first Grand Prix race held in the streets of Los Angeles.
His first job was delivering the Bellingham Herald on his bike early in the mornings. His parents later found out, when he was in his 50s, that he would sometimes take the rally car out to do the deliveries when he thought he could get away with it.
Ed graduated from Bellingham High School in 1980. He participated in many music department productions and sports, including football. He lettered in wrestling and track and was very active in Luther League at Faith Lutheran Church.
Despite his very high IQ, common sense sometimes eluded him. His counselors assured him he would receive a scholarship and could attend any college he wanted. Instead, he enlisted in the Air Force.
He graduated with honors from the Aerospace Ground Equipment Mechanic Course but soon realized he should have taken advantage of the college option. He passed the written test and was headed to the Air Force Academy when his leg was run over by a tug on the tarmac. Unable to pass the physical test, his Air Force career came to an end.
After leaving the Air Force, Ed began his truck driving career, logging over 2 million miles without an accident while working for several companies. Growing tired of always being on the road, he decided to follow his passion for owning his own business. In 2012, he opened Taylor Driving Schools in Burlington, WA, a school focused on commercial driver training. His school quickly became one of the most successful in the state, boasting the highest pass rate for its students.
Ed had connections with many businesses and went above and beyond to help his students pass the CDL test and secure employment after completing the course. Annually, he hosted a huge job fair and BBQ in the summer, helping current and past students make valuable career connections. Ed provided a new career path for many people needing second chances.
He thrived by giving back to his community. Specifically, he worked with Harvest Against Hunger, using the school's trucks and students to haul produce from farms to food banks. While he greatly enjoyed giving back, he was very humble and wasn't keen on receiving praise for doing something he simply thought needed doing. In 2017, he was honored with the Mike Shanahan Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in Hunger Relief through Rotary First Harvest. Posthumously, he was the inaugural recipient of the Harvest Against Hunger's Hunger Relief Hero award in 2023.