A May 16 memorial service has been scheduled for Richard “Rich” Teerlink, a former CEO of Harley-Davidson Inc. who ran the company for 18 years. He died in early April at age 88 following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Teerlink retired as Harley’s chairman and CEO in 1999. He started with the company in 1981, as chief financial officer, only a few months after a group of 13 managers acquired it from then corporate parent, AMF.
During Teerlink’s tenure at Harley-Davidson, the company was transformed from a struggling manufacturer to a global motorcycle company. By the time he retired from the Board of Directors in 1999, revenue had climbed from $210 million to $2.45 billion.
Teerlink was known for walking factory floors, building relationships with employees, and living by five core values: tell the truth, be fair, keep your promises, respect the individual, and encourage intellectual curiosity.
“It’s not the bottom line — it’s the people,” he often said. This mantra, and his support for the individual was the building block for the Harley-Davidson culture that’s been lauded by employees and the community.
Teerlink was an incredible leader and an inspiring person, said Chaz Hastings, a former Harley-Davidson Inc. manager who later owned a dealership on Milwaukee’s north side.
Teerlink established the Harley Owners Group which now has chapters around the world. In 2000, Harvard University asked him to share his insights, and his book, “More Than a Motorcycle: The Leadership Journey at Harley-Davidson”, was published.
The Washington Speakers Bureau invited him to become a member of their stable of speakers, affording him opportunity to share his people management vision with audiences on four continents.
Teerlink served on many corporate and civic boards, including Summerfest, Froedert Cancer Center, Johnson Controls, Snap-On, Vertex, Quad Graphics and Junior Achievement.
He is survived by his wife Ann, and their three children, John Teerlink (Jean), Leslie Teerlink and Victoria Teerlink (Jeff Drope). He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Elizabeth, Richard A., Rick, Frank, Francesca, Mandela and Luke, and two great grandchildren, Autumn and Luciana.
In addition to his parents, Teerlink was preceded in death by a sister, Helen, and brothers Hank and Jim. Surviving are two nieces and their families, Susan Crosson and Karen Van Valkenburgh, and nephew David Teerlink and his family.
A public Celebration of Life is scheduled for Friday, May 16 at Blue Mound Country Club in Wauwatosa, 10122 W. North Avenue. Visitation and refreshments will begin at 6pm with a Memorial Ceremony starting at 7:30 pm.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Next Door Foundation or Junior Achievement of Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: May 16 memorial service set for Rich Teerlink, former CEO of Harley-Davidson
Reporting by Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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