Andrew “Butch” Taylor, Virginia Army National Guard – Sergeant 1981 – 1987
Andrew “Butch” Taylor joined the Army National Guard while he was still in high school.
During training Taylor attended One Station Unit Training (OSUT) that combined his basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) into one 16-week session in Missouri. Taylor excelled during training and won two of four special awards for the class of more than 360 soldiers. He was recognized with the SAME (Society of American Military Engineers) award and received the highest score for the PT (physical training) test.
During his schooling, Taylor trained to be a combat engineer and was later based with Company C 276 Engineering Battalion.
“A combat engineer is the first one in and the last one out. We go in and build the bridges, clear the area for the infantry. After they leave, we take the bridges back down and clean up the mess,” he says. “We also performed all the recon. We sent out small teams, went in at night to survey the area and bring back information.”
Taylor’s time in the Army taught him how to stay on task, stay focused, and work as a team.
“Discipline and teamwork are probably the two biggest things that got ingrained in my soul, so to speak. Also my ethics, my morals,” he says.
Taylor joined the tire industry after a 21-year career working in manufacturing. He opened Titan Auto & Tire with his wife in January 2004.
Today, Taylor is president of the dealership, which operates two locations in Moseley and South Chesterfield, Va. The company is actively looking for a third location to expand.
While Taylor says he’s always worked on his own vehicles, he wouldn’t say he got into the industry because of a love of cars.
“I’m not a gear head. I’d like to be considered a businessman versus a gear head, so to speak,” he says. “I just surround myself with some pretty good technicians.”
Taylor says one of his favorite parts of working in the tire industry is the freedom – it’s not a typical 9-to-5 desk job. He also enjoys the interaction with the community. Titan is involved with several organizations throughout the community including sponsoring events through Fort Lee for military families.
