October 12, 2016 – It is with great sadness that GHT Limited announces the passing of our founder, Goodwin “Goodie” H. Taylor, on October 5, 2016.
A graduate and President of his class at Washington & Lee High School in Arlington, Goodie’s life was deeply rooted in the Northern Virginia area, both as a resident and a member of its business community. Earning an appointment to the first class of the United States Air Force Academy and later graduating with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, Taylor worked briefly for DuPont before returning to the Washington area in 1960 to join the Kendrick & Redinger engineering firm. Tapping into his entrepreneurial spirit, Goodie started the firm known today as GHT Limited in Arlington, Virginia in 1965.
As perhaps the earliest adopter of the “Work-Life Balance” movement, Goodie cultivated an environment where GHT employees were encouraged to work hard, enjoy what they do and make time for relaxation with loved ones. After selling the firm to his partners in the late 1980’s, he founded Taylor Construction and embarked on a second career as a real estate developer, where he built and leased properties in the Maryland-Delaware Eastern Shore area. Goodie also completed an historic renovation of the former De Vargas Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which he re-opened in 1986 as the Hotel St. Francis. The property later served as a second home for him, his wife Patty and their family.
Above all, Goodie was known for his commitment to fairness, in both life and career. He was appropriately nicknamed “Goodie” at a young age, as a good man who established the culture of GHT as an extended family. “As a veteran of GHT for over 30 years, my heart is heavy with the news of Goodie’s passing,” said President Paul O’Brien. “He had a profound impact on my life, and the lives of so many others who worked alongside him to build the firm into what it is today.”
Goodie is survived by his wife Patty; his son Kirk, wife Tamera and their son Levi; his son Hunt, wife Gretchen and their children Grace and Hunter. Goodie is preceded in death by his daughter Kelly Merriam and survived by his son-in-law Rob and their daughters Taylor and Maggie. A funeral mass will be held at St. Luke Catholic Church in McLean, VA on October 29, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for the Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurology and Brain Sciences. Donations may be sent to Heather Culp, Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, Department of Neurology and Brain Sciences, 550 N. Broadway, Suite 731, Baltimore, MD 21205.