From Factory Floor to Walk of Fame: Honoring Wright Chairman Terry Taylor

Recently, the City of Barberton honored one of its own in a truly special way. Terry Taylor, chairman of Wright, was officially inducted into the 2025 Barberton Walk of Fame, a recognition reserved for individuals whose service, leadership and dedication have left a lasting mark on the community.

Hometown Honor

Terry Taylor was born in Barberton and raised outside city limits. A graduate of Coventry High School, he developed early the values that would shape his life: hard work, perseverance and integrity.

The Barberton Walk of Fame, established in 2015, was created to recognize residents who have positively impacted the community, especially in neighborhoods supported by the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH). Led by Neighborhood Development Services, Inc. and funded through the Ohio Capital Impact Corporation, the initiative is modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame and features elegant sidewalk plaques throughout the downtown Arts & Entertainment District.

At the 2025 ceremony, Mayor William B. Judge shared remarks celebrating Terry’s achievements.

A Career Built on Grit and Vision

Terry’s journey with Wright began on the factory floor, where he first started working decades ago. Through hard work and leadership, he climbed the ranks to eventually become chairman and part-owner of the company.

Terry worked summer shifts at the company in 1967 and 1968, then joined full-time in January 1969. Over the decades, he worked his way through nearly every corner of the business — from shipping supervisor and shift supervisor to maintenance supervisor, and eventually, plant manager in 1979.

Terry’s determination and understanding of every level of the business made him a standout leader. In 1996, he was named vice president of operations. Three years later, he became president, and in 2007, he was named chairman and CEO of Wright.

In the 1980s, Terry and his wife Patricia Taylor, who met while employed at Wright, worked together to reshape the company’s culture, emphasizing employee engagement and continuous improvement. Their leadership helped develop Wright’s guiding philosophy: “Perfecting Performance,” which later evolved into the Perfecting Performance Quality Process (PPQP).

Legacy Worth Celebrating

Terry Taylor’s impact can be reflected in the culture he’s helped build, the careers he’s influenced and the community he’s supported for decades. His leadership and hard work have shaped both Wright’s identity and its long-standing ties to Barberton.

Wright is proud to see his name permanently etched into the heart of Barberton and even prouder to have him leading the way at Wright.