Inducted
1999
Degrees
- B.S. Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, 1960
- M.S. Nuclear Engineering, West Virginia University, 1966
President and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor-White, LLC — Oneida, Tennessee
A native of Fairmont, George Taylor earned his BS degree in chemical engineering in 1960 and his MS degree in nuclear engineering in 1966, both from WVU. A registered Professional Engineer in three states, Taylor has many years of experience in R & D and senior management, including positions at the Koppers Company, Numec/Arco Chemical Company, Radiation International and Hartco Flooring Company.
As a graduate student at WVU, Taylor assisted in the development of a wood-impregnation/radiation-curing process and subsequently became a research associate on this project. Based on his research, he designed, built and operated production facilities for two companies using gamma rays from Cobalt 60 to polymerize monomers impregnated into wood.
Taylor then incorporated his own company which developed a similar process, omitting the radiation-curing step. This resulted in a joint venture with Hartco Flooring Company, where the process was adapted for large-scale production. He subsequently served as an officer and vice president for more than 20 years, during which time he formed a Chemical Division that commercialized more than 60 new products. While directing the Chemical Division operations, he had company-wide responsibilities for purchasing, technical services, R&D and environmental/government regulations areas. Eventually, he became chairman of the senior management group responsible for all phases of the business.
After retiring from Hartco, Taylor led a group of investors in buying a million square-foot Philips-Magnavox cabinet plant, and two years later he and partner Charles White acquired a million square-foot TV and injection-molding plant, both from Philips Consumer Electronics. Presently, Taylor serves as president/CEO of Taylor-White, LLC, and its five operating companies which are involved in electronics, wood, plastics, logistics and contract manufacturing. Located in Knoxville, Jefferson City and Greeneville, Tennessee, Taylor-White manufactures TVs for Philips-Magnavox, Zenith and Samsung, and has developed its own TV console line. Since the first acquisition in 1995, sales have grown to $400 million, and employment has reached 2,500.
A father of five children, Taylor is married to attorney Janette Taylor. They reside in Oneida, Tennessee.