Glen Taylor
From Hoopedia
On March 23, 1995, Glen Taylor closed the deal that made him majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He added the title of NBA owner to a list that already included international businessman, state senator, entrepreneur, philanthropist and executive of the year.
Before he even completed his first full year season as owner, Taylor set in motion his plan for making a mark on the Minnesota sports scene. Prior to the completion of the sale of the team from Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner, Taylor installed Rob Moor, Roger Griffith and Chris Wright to run the business functions of the franchise, and promoted Minnesota and NBA basketball legend Kevin McHale to develop the team. With the move of McHale to vice president of basketball and the addition of general manager Jim Stack and head coach Dwane Casey, Taylor has assembled a basketball staff with years of experience in the pro ranks.
Taylor is Chairman of the Board of Taylor Corporation, located in Mankato, Minn., 75 miles southwest of the Twin Cities. The Taylor Companies, which are involved in the printing, marketing and electronics industries, include more than 70 operating divisions in 19 states, three Canadian provinces, the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico. Their employees number more than 14,000, including more than 5,000 Minnesotans.
Taylor built his company from modest beginnings. While a student at Mankato State University in 1959, he took a part-time job at Carlson Wedding Service, Fifteen years later, in 1974, he acquired a majority interest in the company, laying the foundation for what would soon grow into Taylor Corporation.
Taylor's business savvy has been recognized by Corporate Report magazine, which honored him as its Executive of the Year (1987), and the Sales and Marketing Executives of Minneapolis/St. Paul, who awarded him with their Sales Executive of the Year Award (1999). He was also inducted into the Minnesota Hall of Fame (2002) by Twin Cities Monthly Magazine.
Taylor was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1980, where he served until 1990. He became assistant Senate minority leader in 1982. From 1984 to 1986, he served as Senate minority leader. While in the Senate, Taylor was instrumental in providing leadership in the areas of higher education, child care and economic development policies.
Through personal involvement, Taylor has remained active in many civic and charitable causes. In Mankato, he has served as YMCA President, Chamber of Commerce Director, Mankato Jaycees President and United Way Campaign Chairman. He has also has served on his church's board of deacons and board of trustees and on the Mankato State University Foundation board of directors. On the state level, Taylor has served as the director of the Minnesota Business partnership, director of the Greater Minnesota Corporation and president of the International Thermographers Association.
Nationally, Taylor has provided expert testimony on business and child care issues to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and served as a committee chair on the category:1991:1991 Commission on Reform and Efficiency (CORE).
In category:1997:1997, Mankato State University awarded Taylor his first honorary doctorate. Taylor received the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws for his distinguished professional career and volunteer service. In October 2001, Taylor was inducted into the Minnesota State University, Mankato Hall of Distinction.
Taylor was born April 20, 1941, and raised on a farm 60 miles west of his current home in Mankato. He graduated from Comfrey High School (MN) in 1959. In just three years, he earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics, physics and social science from Mankato State University. He later continued his education at the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Taylor continues to live in Mankato. His children, Terri, Jean, Taylor Moor, Jeff, and Kendahl, and grandchildren, Andrea, Melissa, Grayson, Emma and Abby, and great-granddaughters, Piper and Riley, enjoy attending many of the Timberwolves and Lynx games.
