RAN 2/1/96, Pg. A7 Herald staff Maurice M. ``Morry'' Taylor, Jr. Age: 51 Experience: He served two years in the U.S. Army Reserves, and was honorably discharged in 1969. He attended Michigan Tech and came within a few credits of earning his degree. Taylor worked as a plant engineer for General Motors Corporation followed by a two-year stint as engineer and manager of his father's company, where he had worked as a boy. For the next 16 years, Taylor was a self-employed steel products manufacturer's representative. In 1983, he and a partner purchased Titan Wheel International, Inc., a failing 100-year-old wheel plant in Quincy, Ill., from Firestone. Taylor is president and CEO of Titan Wheel, which is touted by his campaign as the world's largest manufacturer of wheels for construction, agricultural and recreational vehicles, and one of the strongest performers in growth earnings on the New York Stock Exchange. It is among the top 1/2 of 1 percent growth earners of the 3,000-plus companies traded. Titan's sales have grown from $103.8 million in 1990 to $407 million in 1994. This year's net sales are projected to exceed $600 million. Titan's operations include 15 manufacturing plants in eight states, employing more than 3,000 workers. Another 2,000 workers are employed at Titan's five Western European plants. Taylor, the oldest of four children, was born in Detroit to Maurice ``Morry'' Taylor Sr., and Madeleine Manning. Taylor's father owned and operated a tool and die shop for more than 40 years, employing 50 people. Taylor's sister is a lawyer. His two brothers are Titan dealers. Taylor grew up in several small Michigan communities, graduating from Ellsworth High School in 1962. Education: He majored in mechanical engineering at Michigan Tech University but dropped out after one term. He studied for two years at Northwestern Community College, then scraped money together to open a men's clothing store, which he later sold for a profit. Family: Married to Michelle Callahan Taylor, age 49, the couple has three children; Anthony, 26, Maureen, 25, Catharine, 18. Taylor and his wife live in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. They also maintain homes in Quincy, Ill. and Heathrow, Fla. Taylor claims a personal worth of more than $40 million.