Ed was born and raised on his father's dairy farm in North Carolina. He came to the Academy following three years at the university of North Carolina where he was an active member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Following graduation, he spent five years in the Navy Supply Corps and then joined Western Electric as a manager/supervisor. In 1967 he entered Florida State University and was awarded a PhD in Educational Research in 1970.

Ed continued to work in the field of education and training in successive positions as Associate Director, National Laboratory for Higher Education; Research Associate, Duke University Medical Center and Director of Education and Training at BDM. At the time of his death he was Training Manager for Data-Design Laboratories, Alexandria , VA.

The following information is compiled from a Memorial Obituary published in the Winston Salem Journal.  Dr. Edward N. Hobson, PhD died on Friday, August 16, 1991 at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. At the time of his death, his home was in Oakton, Virginia. Funeral services were held on August 19, 1991 at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria where he was a member. Interment was at Richmond Hill Baptist Church cemetery, Boonville, North Carolina the following day. 

Ed is survived by his wife, Joan; his parents, John and Mervil Hobson, and brother, J. D. Hobson, of Booneville; two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Shirley Hobson of Raleigh and Gregory and Diana Hobson of Lynchburg, VA; and two grandchildren.