Getting Butter From a Duck

Born in Prattville, Alabama and raised in Montgomery, Ed Harbison graduated from the Career Academy School of Broadcasting and attended Troy State University at Fort Benning. He served four years in the U.S. Marines and is a recipient of the Purple Heart. He is a public relations and advertising consultant and a broadcast journalist. Active in the community, Ed is a 1990 graduate of Leadership Columbus and a former officer of the Georgia Association of Newscasters.

He has received a number of awards for his professional accomplishments and his community service including: the James Costen Government Services Award, the National Infantry Association’s Order of Saint Maurice for distinguished and gallant support of the Infantry, the Associated Press Annual Award for Best Regularly Scheduled TV Newscast, the Jack Brinkley Service Award, the Department of Defense Vietnam Veterans of Appreciation Award, the Legacy of Leadership Award for outstanding service to the African American community, and was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame for his support of Veterans in the state of Georgia.

Life will never be as sweet as it is today if it were not for its ups and downs. You would never be able to appreciate your success without the failures in the past and you would never learn to treasure success without the hurdles that you had to overcome. Life becomes more precious because of the challenges that you have successfully turned into opportunities to make you stronger. better. and happier. These are among the things that I have learned in life after growing up in poverty in rural Alabama. serving the U.S. Marines and getting a Purple Heart to becoming a broadcast journalist and member of the Georgia State Senate fighting for the welfare of veterans and military families.

Just like how my grandmother and mother shared their life lessons with me and helped made me who I am today.