Board President
Also a founding Board member of CPHF, Ed moved to Alaska in 1973 to work for John Stepps Friendly Ford and Glacier Lincoln Mercury as Parts and Service operations manager in Anchorage. He purchased recreational property on the Moose River in 1974 and fell in love with the Kenai Peninsula.
He has lived on an eastern slope overlooking the Kenai River and the Kenai Mountain Range for the past 32 years and spent half of his life calling Soldotna home. Ed purchased Frank’s Kenai Auto Rebuild, Inc. at mile 3 of the Kenai Spur Highway and opened Kenai Auto in February of 1976. He retired from an active role in the operation of Kenai Auto in December of 2008. Ed convinced Lila Ann to marry him on Friday, March 13th, 1977, and they have been close partners in serving the community ever since.
He and Lila Ann have been involved in the local community in many ways over the years including Ed’s tenure as an Elks member since 1960 and Charter Member of Soldotna Elks Lodge, as member of Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce, as member of the Board Birch Ridge Golf Association and a member of Soldotna Rotary Club since 1988, including terms as president and Board member. Ed served on the Kenai Soldotna Fish and Game advisory committee chair for 10 years, as Ducks Unlimited Area Chairman for 12 years, and DU State chairman for 2 years. He founded the Rotary Assistance for Transportation program at the hospital before the Foundation was established, which continues today as the Fred Chambers Memorial R.A.F.T. program. He has been a participant in the Return of the Salmon at Heritage Place and a sponsor of many fundraisers to support community needs.