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| Inducted: |
2002 |
| Region: |
U.S. |
| Industry: |
Manufacturing
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Richard Teerlink joined Harley-Davidson in 1981 two months after the management buyout. The nation’s sole motorcycle manufacturer was on the brink of bankruptcy, facing a declining motorcycle market, poor product perception, and heavy Japanese competition. Teerlink successfully negotiated new financing through new lenders and kept the company out of bankruptcy court. Since then Harley-Davidson has evolved into one of the most successful companies in the United States. From 1988 to 1998 revenues grew from less than $400 million to nearly $2.1 billion. |
