Auto Detailing News Winter issue

Ed Terwilliger
Ed Terwilliger is a humble man. He is sort
of a mix between Mr. Chipping in Goodbye,
Mr. Chips and Paul Newman especially
concerning his extracurricular activities
resume. But, more on that second
part later. The humble part of Terwilliger’s
persona is one I experienced firsthand.
It was at a Mobile Tech Expo a few years
back. It was an IDA seminar and the room
was packed. I stood in the back as a panel
of detailing professionals spoke about the
call for professionalism and respect in the
industry. I noticed another person standing
in the back with me. He kept quiet,
but soon offered up his thoughts on how
detailers can find high-quality employees.
He spoke about trade schools and the dedicated
students therein. After the seminar,
he disappeared into the crowd. A year later,
at the next Mobile Tech Expo he stood
on a crowded stage, being inducted into
the IDA’s newly established IDA Hall of
Fame. “The following individuals were
nominated by their
peers and inducted
for their significant
and lasting contributions
to the professional
detailing industry in the areas
of Innovation, Advancement, Education,
and Leadership,” stated the IDA. Terwilliger
received a buoyant round of applause.
Afterwards, I asked him if I could
interview him for this magazine. Sure,
that would be great, he said. His modesty
and quiet unpretentiousness were once
again noticeable. Here is the IDA’s writeup
of Terwilliger:
Ed Terwilliger has been a passionate
promoter of detailing since the late
1960s. He began his professional career
teaching Industrial Art at Buena
Park High School in Buena Park, California,
in January of 1971 after getting
his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts
from California State University, Long
Beach. Ed was instrumental
in developing
the core curriculum for
detailing for the North
Orange County Community
College District
In 1988. After teaching Auto
Detailing at the High School at
night, Ed expanded the curriculum from
Buena Park and began teaching Auto
Detailing on campus at Cypress College
in Cypress, California., in 2000.
Ed has been a member of the International
Detailing Association since its
inception. He was a member of the PDA
(Professional Detailing Association) and
the NAPDR (National Association of
Professional Detailers and Reconditioning),
which both preceded the IDA. He
was also a founding member of the SCP-
DA (Southern California Professional
Detailers Association).
Besides being a member of the IDA,
he has his CD (Certified Detailer), SV
(Skills Validated), and is an active RT
(Recognized Trainer) for the IDA.
As an Instructor for high school, college,
and as an RT for the IDA, Ed has
been responsible for countless people getting
their detailing start through his classes.
He is also a regularly featured speaker
at many detailing tradeshows and events.
He has been a featured guest on the TV
Show Car Care, for Autogeek’s Competition
Ready series hosted by Mike Philips,
CD-SV, RT, on the Velocity Channel.
Ed organizes and regularly hosts detailing
meet and greets for the IDA, which
has had a great impact on recruiting new
IDA members and getting detailers to
sign-up for CD and SV certification.
Ed has spent his entire adult life as
a “Car Guy” in the detailing and auto
appearance industry. He is a passionate
and dedicated ambassador for the IDA
and detailing.
As for the Paul Newman reference, it
appears that Terwilliger is a bit of an athlete,
hobby aficionado, and maybe even a
little bit daredevil. From being a competitive
VOL. 5, NO.4 • WINTER 2020 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | 29