Auto Detailing News Winter issue

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water skier, to loving to ride, fix or beautify anything with a motor, Tewilliger does not like sitting still. In fact, when I called him the first time for this interview, he had just gotten back from riding vehicles in the Moab Desert with a few other legendary detailers. Just another day in Ed’s world. However, even with a busy schedule, a loving relationship with his wife, his daughter and grandchildren, Terwilliger also has a love for his career as a teacher. He has been teaching for over 50 years and has a passion for his students and their pursuit to be well-respected detailers. Between teaching, being a devoted husband, and competing on water skis he found the time to talk to me. Here is his story. Fortitude for·ti·tude (noun): mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously. I was a car guy from a very young age, said Terwilliger. “I started drawing pictures of futuristic cars when I was very young. And then in junior high, if not earlier, I was building model cars. My dad was a bit of a home-based mechanic so I would help him with oil changes and brake jobs. Then in high school I got a job at a gas station/ mechanic shop. I worked for them for three years. I was doing everything from pumping gas to working in the lube rack to brake jobs. I’ve always been hands-on with cars.” Terwilliger also had a buddy from elementary school and they would go to car shows in the 1950s with his father. It was mostly hot rods and roadsters. It was a few years later in Junior High he found that he liked helping out other students in the Industrial Arts program. It was also around that time that he decided he wanted to be a drafting teacher. “I became a teacher’s assistant in 7th and 8th grade and that followed me all the way into college.” “In junior high I made the decision that I wanted to be a drafting teacher. And that stayed with me, basically into college.” he said. It wasn’t until he was around 16 that he had his first detailing customer. That customer would prove to be his first taste of dissonance. It was a 1965 Lincoln Continental and his friend’s father made it very clear that he only wanted him to use Simoniz. So, Terwilliger did as he was told. The first time, that is. Satisfied with his work, the father asked him again for another detailing. This time, Terwilliger used Turtle Wax. “He didn’t like that,” he shared. “I pay you to Simoniz my car. That was the last time I worked on his car. I said I was sorry. I didn’t realize it was that important to him. But, it didn’t stop me. Most things roll off my back like water on a duck and I didn’t let it get to me.” Terwilliger eventually went on to college, graduating in June of 1970 with a BA, studying Industrial Arts and did his student teaching the following Fall. He also started detailing and painting cars on the side when he got out of college and started teaching at Buena Park High School in January of 1971. Around the early 70s he got into more serious detailing. “Back in the day you had a can of wax, a garden hose, and bucket. Then, in the early 70s, I could run a High Speed polisher or buffer. When Rupes and Flex came out with their more powerful machines a few years ago, they really revolutionized the industry. Now, all of those guys who were afraid of a rotary polisher could now pick up a machine and polish paint and get some results without the fear of cutting or burning through the paint. Along with pads and chemicals — detailing has come a long way since I started out.” Professional pro·fes·sion·al (adjective): following a line of conduct as though it were a profession. Being a teacher was always a dream of Terwilliger’s. He taught at Buena Park High School, where he started the first vocational detailing program in 1988 through the Community College district, starting at night at the High School as a Satellite location and later moving on Campus at Cypress College around 2000. Over the years he has taught over 18,000 students. “I developed great friendships with some of my students going back to the early 70s to today. I have always liked helping people,” Terwilliger shared. “The other thing is that I wanted three months off so that I could ‘play’.” One of Terwilliger’s goals as a teacher has been to “professionalize” the detailing industry. The trade needs to be respected in the automotive world. “I have been working for 32 years trying to professionalize the industry. I think that is because I am a professional. As an educator and in anything I do I take it from a professional point of view.” Around 1990 in Southern California Terwilliger and five of his college students started the Southern California Professional Detail Association. It lasted for about 6 years and had an average attendance of 30 to 40 people at each monthly dinner meeting. “It was very active, but folded because I could not get any detailers to take over the board. “We covered everything. We had Ron Ketchum, who at that time was working for Finish Kare, which was owned by Floyd Meguiar, and he was very well connected with the automotive industry at the manufacturer’s level — so he brought in paint technicians, updates from GM and Ford on a regular basis. We had equipment people come in and push their wares, we had product manufactures come in — there was always something every month. There was always a speaker of some type.” A year or two after the International Detailing Association started, Terwilliger joined because he wanted to support any detailing organization which supports and enhances the industry. “There have been a lot that have come and gone and I have been a part of all of them.” Now, Terwilliger’s plaque hangs in the IDA’s Hall of Fame amongst four other people. Today, he teaches at Cypress College, an academic and vocational college in Cypress, California. He currently teaches Beginning Auto Detailing and Car Care and Advanced Automotive Detailing. The Advanced class has a lab every night. The beginning class has a couple hours of lecture and then a lab. “Teaching has been important to me. I have always been a teacher. I’ve been teaching just over 50 years.. One of the things that has impressed me the most over the years is that the detailing industry is now a professional industry. That was a goal of mine since I started my program back in 1988.” One of the things he admired at the 30 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | VOL. 5, NO. 4 • WINTER 2020
2020 Mobile Tech Expo was the determination of the attendees. “These people are taking their jobs very seriously. Investing money. Investing in their education through the seminars. Tools and products have also been impressive, but I am so impressed with how driven the detailers are. The comradery and networking are also great to see. Everyone is sharing their ideas and trying to help each other.” Terwilliger advice for others looking to get into the industry is to make sure you like it first. “Doing what I do is a passion. I have a passion for the industry. I advise others to try it out as a hobby. If they like it, then pursue it professionally.” Devoted de·vot·ed (adjective): zealous or ardent in attachment, loyalty, or affection. Terwilliger has been married for 50 years to his wife Rickeylynne. The secret to their long-lasting marriage? No arguing. “My wife always says, ‘I might not always be right, but I am never wrong.’” In fact, during this interview, you can hear Rickeylynne encouraging her husband to share parts of his professional resume and accomplishments. She also laughed when I asked him what it is he likes to do outside of work. Why the laughter? Because, according to Rickeylynne, this part of the interview will take a while. A surprise to many might be that Terwilliger is a competitive water skier. He skis three days a week for eight months a year. During those other four months he snow skis. When he is not doing some form of skiing, he is off-roading, golfing, traveling, boating, racing and working on cars. One of his great passions is the working on cars part. “I have a partner and we work on Mustangs, and racecars. We have been doing that for 35 years. Building cars, selling cars, buying cars, fixing cars. We paid for our racing hobby by flipping Mustangs.” I like anything with a motor, he said. As for his future, Terwilliger admits he might hang up his teaching hat next year. And, not because he is tired, or burnt out, but because he wants to travel more with his wife. “I am thinking of retiring next year so that my wife and I can travel. I cannot do that while teaching. We still travel, but you cannot stay long because of the classes. So, if I retire, we can then travel some place and just stay there for a while. We are thinking of exploring Wyoming.” However, he will still be just as busy. “With my hobbies, and with working on cars, I will never slow down. As long as I am physically able, I will always stay busy.” VOL. 5, NO.4 • WINTER 2020 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | 31
Page 1 and 2: VOL. 5, NO. 4 WINTER 2020 BUFFMORE
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Nitty Gritty .............
Page 6 and 7: NITTY GRITTY an oven. These steps a
Page 8: THE BUSINESS OF DETAILING Are you S
Page 12 and 13: INNOVATIONS Introducing new & impro
Page 14 and 15: IDA COLUMN Shining Together: IDA Co
Page 16: SYSTEM 4000 PAD WASHER LAUNCHING JA
Page 19 and 20: SEMA360 attracts thousands of atten
Page 21 and 22: DETAIL DOCTOR The Facts about Paint
Page 23 and 24: sional retail center. It was out-gr
Page 25 and 26: Special pricing offer valid through
Page 27 and 28: YOUR RELIABLE SUPPLIER FOR THE DETA
Page 29: Ed Terwilliger Ed Terwilliger is a

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