Edward was born in Andalusia, Alabama, to James Vick and Maude McNair Henderson. His father owned a Buick dealership. At Andalusia High School he lettered in four sports and graduated as valedictorian in 1939. He then worked in a pants factory where he was paid 25 cents an hour, and made 15 dollars for his week's work of 60 hours. In 1940 he entered Auburn University on a scholarship, and signed up for ROTC. Inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942, he continued studies until he graduated. He was then sent to Officer's Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as part of the Corps of Engineers. He received heavy equipment and maintenance training at Granite City, Illinois, and then was sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. There his company, 2811 Engineering Petroleum Distribution Company (EPDC) was formed to build pipelines and gasoline storage units. Sent to Luzon in the Philippines in 1944, he helped maintain a pipeline from Lingayen Gulf to Clark Field. Entering the occupation of Japan "around September" of 1945, his unit built storage facilities at Fukuoka and Yokohama. Edward left Japan in "June or July" of 1946, re-enrolled at Auburn, and earned a second degree in industrial management. In Shreveport he worked for Arkansas Natural Gas, then Arkla Gas before retiring in 1985. Edward married Virginia Whatley in April of 1948. They have two sons and six grandchildren. Edward remains active in his church, where he has served as an elder since 1957.