Toy Reid Employee Center - Kingsport, TN - People-Named Places on Waymarking.com

On January 19, 2001, it was renamed Toy Reid Employee Center after a retired general manager of ECD. As a 1998 Junior Achievement Business Laureate, we learn: "A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Toy Reid was one of eight children born to Methodist minister Toy Fennell Reid and Marteal Mulliken Reid. Toy earned a BS in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina, a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, and an MS in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He served as a meteorologist in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II with the rank of Captain.

When Toy retired as an executive vice president of Eastman Kodak Company and general manager, Eastman Chemicals Division in 1989, he ended a career that spanned 40 years. He joined Tennessee Eastman Company in 1948 as an assistant research chemical engineer. Toy directed various manufacturing divisions before serving as plant manager at Carolina Eastman Company and was elected a vice president of Tennessee Eastman in 1972. His election as an executive vice president of Eastman Kodak Company and appointment as general manager, Eastman Chemical Division, came in 1979.

Toy Reid’s career was highlighted by his direction of the pioneering of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in beverage and food containers, and he was responsible for the decision which resulted in Eastman’s becoming the first United States manufacturer to commercialize a modern generation of industrial chemicals using coal as feedstock. Toy led the development and application of matrix organizational approaches to accelerate commercialization of the PET packaging business. He was an industry leader in applying quality concepts to all management processes and particularly to innovation and commercialization. In 1988, Toy received the 39th Commercial Development Association Honor Award for exemplifying the highest standards of commercial development and practice. He was listed in Marquis’ “Who’s Who in America”. In 1994, he was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni of Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering.

Toy Reid served on numerous boards of directors including: the Eastman Kodak Board, the Tennessee State Board of Education, Provident Life and Accident Insurance, American Electric Power Company, First American Corporation, Holston Valley Hospital and Medical Center, Inc., Junior Achievement of Kingsport, and United Way of Greater Kingsport. He has served as chairman of the board of the American Industrial Health Council and as a director of Chemical Manufacturers Association, and was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He is an honorary trustee of Emory and Henry College, which awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1983. He has been active in numerous civic and professional organizations including the American Society for Quality Control, National Society of Professional Engineers, Society of Chemical Industry, and Tau Beta Pi honorary engineering society. Toy is a past president of the Kingsport Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. The Kingsport Jaycees chose him for their Distinguished Service Award." Reference

The Toy Reid Employee Center is not only used by Eastman, but the entire community - including the area symphony (Waymark WM4WA3), local educators, fourth grade Chemistry Days, etc.

This facility is also crosslisted as Concert Hall Waymark WM4WA3.

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