Biography for Edd Bilek as published in the 2009 Pollen Count
Edd Bilek (Brecksville, OH) After graduation Edd spent the summer working at the Post Office and living an episode from Happy Days which included the Sunday Blue Laws - stores closed, no Rock and Roll after 6 pm except if you were able to tune in Windsor on the radio which was only possible on Barr Road, and of course 3.2 beer). He attended the University of Arizona and Marietta College. He decided to quit school to make some money. He then worked for the Lund Equipment Co. with Jerry Drozdowski '57 and John Halter '59. Edd got drafted and enlisted for missile school in '63 and was off to Ft. Leonard Wood and Red Stone Arsenal. Edd met and married Terrie Halter '64 just before shipping out to Germany. After a few weeks he was redeployed to Vietnam, 1st Infantry Division. In 1965 Edd and Terrie had twins, Ed and Debra '83. He returned home in 1966 after picking up some metal (CIB and two Bronze Stars). He also lost 80 lbs. in the service. His own wife and mother did not recognize him! Edd then spent a lot of time adjusting to a very angry world. His loving family helped him transition to a normal life.
Edd started working with Dow Chemical Plastic Packaging Division in Inventory Control, moved on to Scheduling, and finally ended up as a Production Control Manager. During this time Edd earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cleveland State University. This period of time was one of acquisitions/mergers, and his division was purchased by American Can, American National Can, Triangle Industries, Pechiney, and now Alcan. Also during this period of time his family grew. Edd and Terrie had three more children, Marc '87, Rosann '95, and Bitsy '98.
In 1983 Edd was elected to the BBH's Board of Education (1984-87). With a lot of help from Marc Glasgow '59, the Board was able to complete the new athletic complex which currently exists and is in use at the new high school.
In 1986 Edd took on a project (MRP II) as the Manager, Manufacturing Resource Planning which involved moving five independent plants from paper and stand alone PC systems to a fully integrated, on-line, real time system (including hardware and software selection teams). While it was scheduled to be a two year project, it expanded to ten plants (more acquisitions) and seven years (for Flexible Packaging and Tube Plants). The scope also expanded from Inventory Control/Scheduling to Order Entry, Cost Accounting, Forecasting, Bill of Material, etc. While retired, this system and User Manuals are still used in 22 plants - domestic and international.
In 2001 Terrie passed away. His five children and twelve grandchildren (soon to be thirteen) are a good and solid legacy. Edd now spends most of his time trying to keep up with all his family's activities. Since his children are living all over the United States he tries to visit all of them when he can. In his spare time Edd stays active with the Alumni Association and he also makes yearly trips to Honduras with St. Basil's, building latrines, houses, churches and water purification units. |