MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Ward, Burton, Butler (38th), Clarke, Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Hewes
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING WILLIAM A. "LEX" TAYLOR OF LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF TAYLOR MACHINE WORKS, FOR HIS APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSISSIPPI MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (MMA).
WHEREAS, respected business and community leader William A. "Lex" Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Louisville-based Taylor Machine Works, has been named 2010-2011 Chairman of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA). Lex is currently Chairman and CEO of the Taylor Group, Inc., and President of Taylor Machine Works, Inc., in Louisville, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Taylor joined the family-owned business, Taylor Machine Works, at the age of 15 and learned all aspects of the heavy lift equipment industry before entering into the company's management trainee program. He worked as a systems coordinator and as the assistant to the president of manufacturing before being elected to the board of directors in 1981. In 1982, he was promoted to Vice President and General Manager, was elected President in 1986 and finally to Chairman and CEO upon the passing of his father Bill Taylor in November 2007; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, Taylor Machine Works has followed a course of diversification, resulting in the formation of The Taylor Group, Inc. The addition of competitive products has resulted in the continued growth of a domestic-based manufacturer competing on a worldwide basis. The company is the only privately owned manufacturer of heavy industrial lift trucks in the country; and
WHEREAS, Taylor is involved in numerous civic and professional organizations. In addition to his service with MMA, he serves on the boards of Business & Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) and Information and Quality Healthcare. He is past Chairman of Construction Industry Manufacturers' Association (CIMA), now AEM, and the Winston Medical Foundation. He has been Chairman of Mississippians for Economic Progress (MFEP), the state's leading tort reform group, since its founding. He also serves on the Executive Advisory Board, College of Business, at Mississippi State University; and
WHEREAS, a native of Louisville, Lex Taylor is a 1977 graduate of Mississippi State University. He and his wife Margaret Dodd Taylor have 3 children; and
WHEREAS, Lex Taylor is well respected nationally and is quoted regularly in The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger Newsletter, and Christian Science Monitor; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we acknowledge the leadership and contributions of this respected businessman whose company has generously given to the economic development of the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and congratulate William A. "Lex" Taylor of Louisville, Mississippi, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Machine Works, Inc., for his appointment as 2010-2011 Chairman of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) and extend our best wishes and thanks to Lex and his company for their service to the State of Mississippi and for their future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Lex Taylor, forwarded to the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.