Northwest Aerospace News December | January Issue No. 12 | Page 43

“Lee wanted to bring in someone outside
the industry with a different view for her
company. It is surprising how similar the
business models are for aerospace and
healthcare,” said Pilot.
Looking back
Company founder, Franklin Terry, was a
motivated and entrepreneurial young man.
He worked as an engine tester for Ford
Motor Company. After WWII he deter-
mined that he wanted to be in the gasket
business and planned to open a plant in
Seattle.
On his way West, Terry, thinking that
Spokane and Seattle were the same, had
the company furniture delivered to Spo-
kane —equipment which later had to be
shipped to Seattle. In 1946, Terry incorpo-
rated the company through a partnership
with his father-in-law, and another partner.
Concurrent to starting the gasket busi-
ness for the aerospace industry, Terry
also contracted on marine applications
making die-cut gaskets for boats. At that
time, according to Lee Terry, many people
were getting back to work after the war
and didn’t want to work in the aerospace
industry. She added that many people
went back to their furniture stores and
other businesses; therefore, the aerospace
industry needed suppliers.
Lee Terry said, “I probably shouldn’t tell
you this, but Dad started up poker nights
in the 1950s with Boeing buyers.”
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She added, “Dad was a strait-laced,
conservative guy. When he went to work
every day, Mom laid out a suit and tie for
him. We had dinner every night at 5:30
pm.” She reflected that she grew up in
a household where children “were to be
seen and not heard.”
Lee has brothers and sisters, but she is
the only one who came to work in the
company.
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