Ed Glover was born April 23, 1885 in Emsworth, Pennsylvania, and moved to Crown Point, Indiana, with his family at an early age and became interested in the pole vault. After graduation, he entered Purdue University and in 1905 became the Western Conference (Big Ten) champion pole vaulter with a record vault of 11-9 3/8. He was also the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) champion. Ed did not return to the university in 1906 and gave up his record to another Indiana high school (Kokomo) vaulter who was attending Indiana University, Leroy Samse (12-4 7/8).
In 1906, Glover became a member of the Chicago Athletic Association and made the USA Olympic Team that participated in the Athens, Greece, Olympic Games. In the games, Ed was vaulting well until an official walked in front of him as he was attempting a vault and was injured. The injury did not allow him to continue and the bronze medal was the result. He came back in 1907 to vault a personal record 12-0.
After receiving his law degree, he returned to Crown Point, entered into the political arena and in 1921 was elected to his first of two terms as mayor, later becoming secretary of the Lake County Republican Party. Glover was very active in Masonic and Shrine activities, as well as the Sigma Nu fraternity.
Ed died of a heart attack on October 31, 1940, at the age of 55, leaving a wife and children Edward Jr. and Richard. He is buried at the Maywood cemetery in Crown Point.