Hall of Famers

››› Glen Taylor, who in 1967 bought a company with 30 employees and grew his holdings to employ more than 14,000, including the members of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team he bought in 1994. Taylor served for more than 10 years in the Minnesota Senate and started the state’s first company-owned daycare center.

››› Daryl "Sid" Verdoorn, who in 25 years running C. H. Robinson (1977 to 2002) transformed it from a $150 million seller of fruits and vegetables to a $3 billion, 3,900-employee, multimodal international shipping and transporting company.

››› Manny Villafaña, a "serial entrepreneur" who founded Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. (CPI), which developed pacemakers worn, when he was inducted in 2003, by 2.3 million patients, and St. Jude Medical, which developed a mechanical heart valve worn by 1.5 million patients.

››› Win Wallin, chairman and CEO of Medtronic from 1985 to 1991, who continued to serve as chairman until 1996. During his tenure as CEO, Medtronic’s revenues rose from $370 million to $1 billion, and the number of its employees nearly doubled to 8,500.

››› Wheelock Whitney, former star investment banker, CEO of Dain & Company, candidate for governor, teacher of management at the University of Minnesota, and part owner of the Minnesota Vikings.

With your guidance, next year’s inductees will be every bit as impressive. Feel free to send me your nominations any time in the next eight months: jnovak@tcbmag.com, 612-336-9299, Twin Cities Business, 220 South Sixth Street, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55402.