Special to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By Repps Hudson
01/02/2009
Driving a cab is almost a stereotypical way for immigrants and refugees wanting to get started in their new country to earn a living and put down roots.
One who has done so successfully is Ezezew Biru, who left Ethiopia as a teenager and now runs a small taxicab company that is struggling against the system to get larger.
Despite his frustrations, Biru is a happy man with a growing family — he just adopted three relatives from Ethiopia.
Ezezew Biru
Position: Co-owner and operations manager, Metropolitan Taxicab Corp.
Age: 45
Career: After leaving his native Ethiopia at 19 in 1982, he worked as a laborer in Khartoum, Sudan, until immigrating to the United States in 1987; hotel worker in Washington, 1987-1988; factory worker and cab driver in St. Louis, 1988-1995; founded Riverfront Cab Co., 1997; joined with fellow Ethiopians to create Midwest Cab Co., 2001; which became Metropolitan Taxicab Corp., 2004
Education: Studied computer science at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Personal: Lives with his wife, Meselu Shumye, and three boys and three girls in St. Peters
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch spoke with Mr. Biru in his small office at 4427 Geraldine Avenue in the city.
Congratulations to our bro.
His name under his picture is incorrect (it should say “Ezezew”, not “Zezew”).
I am really proud to read about my country men who are working hard and also helping others (in this case, by adopting 3 children).
May the God of Ethiopia help our bro Ezezew!!!
Very nice…good luck Ezezew.
Congratulations! You made it. let us learn to be determined and strive to grow in positive spirit from our fellow Ethiopian. He had a dream and he make it happen. Good job.
Congratulation to my uncle. I’m so proud of u and what u did.
my God bless u and ur family.
“suffering for doing right”
I have no words… my unle just you are a big man! u don’t know how happpy and proud I am of you.
THANKS TO GOD!
LOVE YOU!