Taylor W. Mayfield
The Mayfield name has been in the greater Seattle area for over 100 years, and specifically associated with the crane industry for nearly 70 years.
Taylor W. Mayfield followed in the footsteps of his father, Taylor H. Mayfield, as a crane operator. He opened his own operation in 1996, and is in the process of passing on the family business to his son Taylor A. Mayfield, who became the GM in 2015.
“My dad started as an oiler and operating engineer in 1955. He worked on most of the dams in Eastern Washington until that work dried up, literally. Then he moved the family to Snohomish county where we’ve been ever since—running cranes for high rise buildings, nuclear bases and more,” he reflects. “When I was a young kid, I’d follow him around. I even went to work with him on the weekends. I always knew I’d follow the same path.”
Taylor W. felt the construction trade was well respected and that his family had a knack for it.
“It takes a lot of training, experience and wit,” he chuckles. “It certainly can get nerve-racking at times [operating cranes in precarious places].”
He got into the Operating Engineers Union in 1978 and is still a current member. Taylor W. worked on the Columbia Center, Pacific Place, The World Trade Centers 1 & 2 and Boeing’s Everett Plant. He also pulled hydroplanes in and out of the water at Sea Fair.
“From building sewer treatment plants and installing windmills to taking Coast Guard ships apart, it’s a different environment to adapt to with every job, so it keeps things interesting. I once helped decommission a military base on Johnston Atoll to turn it into bird sanctuary!”
He also worked on jobs in Washington, Hawaii, Nevada and Alaska.
“I did most of my out of town work once my kids were raised,” he reminisces. “I didn’t want to miss a ballet recital, soccer games, or an Arenacross (AX) race. Once I took them to Port Angeles for vacation while I was working on the Coast Guard Dock so we could spend time together.”
Taylor W. has completed some incredibly high profile projects, but one of the most rewarding moments in his career was getting the chance to work side by side with his son, Taylor A.
“The first job we worked on together was the Seahawks Training Facility,” he explains proudly. “We also did LR1600. And the last job we worked on together [before semi-retiring], were two Boeing 777X buildings using Derrick Ballast cranes. It was incredible to see him progress and do some very difficult things, well.”
When asked his feelings about his son becoming General Manager, he smiled and said, “It feels pretty darn good. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to take over the business. My son just picked it up and ran with it.”
