EDWARD ELLIS is a native of Craven County, raised in New Bern and Havelock. He's spent his professional career as a journalist, lobbyist and businessman. With North and South Carolina newspapers, he was an award-winning reporter-photographer, columnist, managing editor and publisher. In 1986, Eddie founded the Havelock News and was publisher of Cherry Point's Windsock for eight years. He served for four years as a legislative representative for state employees in the North Carolina General Assembly. He's owned and operated business enterprises involved in real estate development, construction, marketing, sales, consulting and shipping. None of those occupations diverted him from his fascination with local history, which he says took root during childhood in the local elementary school system. This life-long avocation led him to reading, writing, study, collecting, and personal research both on the ground in Craven County and in archives from New England to New Orleans.