 History  Ted Bachhuber
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Our Beloved Founder (1913-1997)
Mayville Engineering Company was born "in the fall of 1945 over a couple of beers and a handshake," according to founder Ted Bachhuber. His cousin Leo had approached him about starting the business. The agreement was soon sealed. During this time, Ted had a good job at Koehring Company in Milwaukee where he lived with his wife Grace. Initially, he elected to be a silent partner and remain in Milwaukee. Within about a year, Ted and Grace decided to make the move to Mayville to "set down roots" and take an active hand in running the business, therein allowing Leo to retire from the daily operations. "Grace gets a great deal of credit for making the business successful," maintained Ted. "My background was in excavating and heavy construction equipment. At that time, I would not have known one die from another." Grace had previously worked as the office manager for W.T. Grant Company and brought much needed business savvy to the fledgling enterprise. Ted's mechanical ability was exceptional and it wasn't long before he began making major contributions to the innovations and quality products that MEC is known for today. The early days were very difficult according to Ted. "Every day we kept the doors open was a victory." The early challenges read like a spy novel about espionage and double-dealings. A major setback occurred when the only four employees were stolen away by another local firm, leaving Ted and Grace on their own. "A few of the early stories would be very embarrassing to some people, so we better skip over them," Ted explained. Suffice it to say there were some who were actively working to victimize the company and see it disappear. The Bachhuber couple's personal life also reflected the modest beginnings of the MEC story. Ted and Grace lived in an old hunting cottage on the marsh until they could get a proper house in town. "A big night out was peanuts and beer at a local tavern," Ted recalled. "It was a very humble start." Yes, a humble start, but one that foreshadowed the happiness and success that would characterize Ted's entire life. Ted was a master at seeing possibilities and making them come true. He was always more enthusiastic about our success at MEC than he was his own. He appreciated us and believed we could do anything - and because he believed it, we did too. Ted always thought the best of people, worked for the best, and expected the best. He was forgiving of mistakes, and helped us to see them without criticizing. He always pressed for us to achieve the greatness he knew we were capable of. Many people speak of Ted's generosity to the city of Mayville, to many worthy causes, and to many individuals. He supported his love of learning through many scholarships and his love of nature through many endowments. Ted always shared what he had and kept his common spirit no matter how many riches he earned. His legacy has touched every one of us through MEC itself. We will remember Ted's grin, the twinkle in his eye, and his wit. Ted was just too happy to be troubled, too noble to get angry, and too big-hearted to worry. The sun always seemed to be shining where Ted was. He lived the perfect life. He created a great company based on his heart-felt values. He had a wonderful marriage to a woman he adored. He was loved by friends and family everywhere. And best of all, he had a playful and appreciative nature which allowed him to deeply enjoy every moment of his life. As Ted said, "It was a very humble start" - but in the end, the only thing humble about his life was Ted himself. We are forever lucky to have known someone so special. It is plain to see how extraordinary he was in so many ways. But perhaps what stands out most, is that Ted saw that same specialness in us - where it isn't so plain and we aren't so extraordinary. I think this was his greatest gift to us - believing we too were special. Good-bye dear founder and friend, From all your MEC partners
•••• Ted has done so much for the area in regards to trapshooting. He and Grace would give helpful hints to the youth just getting started at what's now called Lion's Point. He helped tremendously when they moved to the new location in Farmersville. -- Tim Weymier, Material Handling •••• If I had to pick a model lifestyle to follow, it would be Ted's. To have been so successful and yet so loved by everyone. -- Tom Lewis, Director of Quality •••• When I first started at MEC I was 16. One day, Ted stopped to tell me that I was doing a good job. That's one day I'll always remember. If Ted thought you were doing a good job, he always stopped and told you so. -- Rick Hartwig, Engineering Services •••• I'll miss him. I've always been proud to be a part of the company he started because he cared about all of us and always had a smile and a "hi" for everyone. -- Kathy Wallace, Production Control •••• He was always friendly and had a smile. -- Dan Breitkreutz, Punch Press •••• Mayville lost a great man. What he has done for the hundreds of people that work for this company is a true testimony to the type of man he is. -- Kevin Braun, MEC Reloaders •••• He always had a smile on his face. -- Darra Brantmeier, John Deere Assembly •••• He was always my hero that I always looked up to and honored with great respect. -- Manny Kruel, Contract Engineering •••• I think he was a very friendly, loving, trusting man that was always pleasant and did a lot for the community and the state. He will be deeply missed. It gave him real pleasure to give to others. -- Sis Wolter, Pemming and Final Inspection •••• Ted's office was an interesting place to visit. The walls hold many stories. Ted always took the time and loved to share these with his visitors and friends, old and new alike. -- Rhonda Apfelbeck, Training •••• Since I've know Ted virtually all my life and have worked at MEC the past 23 years, I have formed a great deal of respect and admiration for Ted. On numerous occasions at the Grand American Trapshoot and Wisconsin State Shoot, people have gone out of their way to thank Ted for providing them with a quality product so they could truly enjoy their sport of shooting. Ted always downplayed his role and said employees were the ones who deserved the credit. Because of his innovations and the way he conducted business, we became the world's largest manufacturer of shotshell reloaders. Ted was very well respected and genuinely liked by everyone in our industry. And even with all the success that Ted had, he never made anyone feel that he was better than they were. He always had time for all of us. Thanks for everything you have given us, Ted. You will be sadly missed by all of us. -- Dave Kern, MEC Reloaders •••• If it wasn't for Ted, we wouldn't be here. He made the Company. He was a real people person. The best I've ever worked for. -- Don Gourlie, Press Brake •••• The biggest things Ted taught me are (1) to always have time to listen; (2) that you can never do it alone, you need good people working with you or you'll never accomplish your goal, and (3) honesty is the most important thing. Ted always gave people a chance to grow and an opportunity to improve themselves. He was a remarkable man. -- Wally Luebke, Contract Engineering •••• When I started working for Ted Bachhuber at MEC, I would address him as Mr. Bachhuber. After several times, he told me that I could call him Ted. I always thought that was neat. I will miss greeting him every morning, as I'm sure many others will, as he took his walk in the shop or when I went by his office to occasionally chat with him. He will always be in our memories. God be with you, Ted. -- Jerry Schepp, Capacity Planning •••• Ted was a very caring, soft, compassionate, thoughtful person that was full of life. He was always thinking of the "little guy." He meant more than words can explain. -- Marge Finke, Human Resources •••• When he walked through the shop, he always remembered my name and said "good morning." -- Rick Gremminger, Welding •••• Ted was a rare kind of man. He always had a kind word to say and made it a point to know your first name and your interests. You weren't just a number	 with him. You don't meet many people like that today. I always enjoyed talking to him. I will miss his trips through the shop. -- Tom Bruni, Spotwelding •••• Ted, my friend remembered. Happiest when he was doing something to make others happy. Always willing to share his love of flight and the great outdoors with others. He recalled and shared the fond memories of the past, while always working towards the promises that the future held. I will remember. -- DuWayne Kuenzi, Information Systems •••• Over the years I've run into many previous employees and people in the shooting sports, and they always asked how Ted was doing. He touched a lot of lives. At his last birthday party, I was standing in line, I turned and had to do a double take. There was Ted next to me wearing a baseball cap with a pretend silver ponytail. Looking over the spread, he nudged me and said, "This is my kind of grub." I'll miss him a lot. -- Vinnie Carlson, Calibration •••• There are a lot of people in the Mayville area that owe a lot to Ted. -- Stan Wolter, Operations •••• Ted was always down-to-earth. He gave a lot of us our first job and most of us have never left because of the kind of company he created. -- Tom Williams, Contract Sales •••• I'm thankful to Ted for getting us where we are today. We couldn't have done it without him. We will miss his warm smile. -- Dave Wallandal, AWP Assembly •••• He was the only guy that would say "good morning" to you everyday when he came through, and he knew you by your first name. I'm really going to miss him. -- Al Wiese, Press Brakes •••• Words and articles about Ted can't come close to describing the truly outstanding person that he was. His quiet, caring presence will certainly be missed by MEC employees as well as the many forms of wildlife that he tended to daily. -- Sandy Feucht, ISO Core Team •••• In 33 years of my career of which 20+ were with MEC, I'll always remember a handful of people who were instrumental in my endeavors. Ted gave many people an opportunity, myself included. He will always be remembered as being the top of that handful of great people in my career. -- Ken Zimmer, AWP Eng. •••• He knew everyone's name even if you were a "nobody". It didn't matter what caliber of person you were. He was always friendly and took the time to ask how you were doing. He practiced what this company stands for ... and he lived it. -- Sandy Luehring, Inventory Control |
