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Status: SUSTAINING GOLD
Member Year: 1999
Expertise:
Business startup, Innovation, Small Business startup
Biography:
Harold R. Wing was born in Springville, Utah on March 5, 1940. He attended Utah public schools and Brigham Young University. He served in the United States Army in Germany from 1958 through 1961. While in Germany he met and
married Brigitte Mayer, a German native. They have raised seven children together.
While in Germany Mr. Wing also worked on the Production and Quality Control staff of Munz Aluminum Giesserei GMBH in Heilbronn, served as a translator and coordinator for the U.S. Government, and taught English at the Berlitz language institute in Heilbronn.
Returning from Germany, Mr. Wing joined the production control staff of Hercules, Inc. in Salt Lake City where he served for five years. He also began selling life insurance for Beneficial Life Insurance Company. In 1970 he moved with his insurance agency to West Germany and while there he made it Beneficial's top performing agency.
It was at this time that Mr. Wing became acquainted with a German inventor and his telescoping combination step and extension ladder. Immediately recognizing the potential of this new product, he obtained the marketing and manufacturing rights for North America and brought the ladder to the United States. He single-handedly sold over a half million dollars of product the first year.
From its modest beginning in the Wing family garage, Mr. Wing has stimulated and directed the growth of Wing Enterprises, Inc. into the international multi-million dollar manufacturing and marketing corporation it is currently. He has patented seven improvements on the original ladder, invented and successfully marketed three special purpose ladders and a scaffold system, and introduced a number of profitable ladder accessories. Today, Wing Enterprises, Inc. is housed in a modern manufacturing facility in Springville, Utah.
Over the years, Mr. Wing has also been active in church and civic affairs, and is a member of the board of directors of a number of corporations. He is listed in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in
Finance and Industry, Men of Achievement, and was selected for the 1982 Freedom Festival Man of the Year Award. In 1986 Mr. Wing was invited to serve as a representative at President Reagan's White House Conference of
Small Business in Washington, D.C. Mr. Wing was elected mayor of Springville, Utah in 1997. Mr. and Mrs. Wing served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1991-1992 in Munich,
Germany. They have also served two missions at the Missionary Training Center. Asked to serve on the NAC.
Management Philosophy:
Build the individual and the business will take care of itself.
Personal Philosophy:
If it is not clean do not think it.
If it is not good do not do it.
If it is not true do not say it.
Family Profile:
Married, 7 children.
Hobbies and Interests:
Horses, dirtbiking, collecting antiques, weapons, autos and art.
Favorite Book:
Believing Christ
Favorite Movie:
The Best Years of Our Lives
Favorite Quote:
'Never tell anyone how to do something, just tell them what needs to be done and let them surprise you with their ingenuity.' --- Gen. George Patton
Favorite Scripture:
3 Nephi 24:7
Favorite Food:
German food
Favorite Vacation Spot:
Switzerland
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