About Us

The TAG Center is a gift from two very special people who shared enthusiasm, dedication, and a sense of humility. Their lives had a positive impact on every person living in the Mayville area, and they will be forever remembered with gratitude…

In March of 2000, the Bachhuber Foundation sent a letter to the Mayor of Mayville:
“We are writing on behalf of the Ted and Grace Bachhuber Foundation to confirm the intent of the Foundation and to its plan to fund the development of what will be known as the Ted and Grace Bachhuber Aquatic and Fitness Center (TAG CENTER).”

In honor of Ted and Grace, a simple but perfect name, TAG CENTER, was chosen for this facility. The name TAG CENTER originated from the “TAG ROAD” sign leading to their home.

Ted Bachhuber founded the Mayville Engineering Company with his Uncle Leo. “Mayville Engineering Company was born in the fall of 1945 over a couple of beers and a handshake”, company founder Ted Bachhuber said in an interview for the company newsletter. His Uncle Leo had approached him about starting the business and an agreement was soon sealed. They started doing business in a rented garage behind Main Street with a few tools, a lot of debt, and an abundance of great ideas. Their primary focus was contract manufacturing. Within a year, Leo’s health forced him to retire, and from that point on, Ted’s wife Grace became his unofficial business partner. A homespun philosophy and faith in people are what led to Ted and Grace Bachhuber’s dream… the growth and development of Mayville Engineering Company, Inc. (now referred to as MEC) into a worldwide provider of products and services.

Ted and Grace first lived in an old hunting cottage on the marsh until they could afford something in Mayville. “A big night out was peanuts and beer at a local tavern,” Ted recalled. He also, of course, had fond memories of Grace. “I was busy. Grace took the office work off me completely, which gave me the time to learn this business, which I knew nothing about. She did everything she could to keep us afloat. We were deeply in debt, and we slowly worked our way out. Without Grace’s help MEC wouldn’t have existed.”

MEC’s plants and warehousing facilities have now grown to an area of over 540,000 square feet. When asked about his secret to success, Ted said, “first, you think of survival. Second, you think of taking care of yourself and the future. Third, you think of other people. Grace and I got the employees pretty well set up, and then thought about the town and other things.” As the business prospered, Ted instituted a profit-sharing plan for his employees.

While toolmaking capability was the heart of the early organization, Ted and Grace’s love of the outdoors and trap shooting led to the development of the MEC line of Shot Shell Reloaders, which are still produced and distributed worldwide. Ted and Grace spent many hours traveling to shoots throughout the country to promote their product. They were both proficient at trapshooting and displayed the highest degree of sportsmanship. Their contributions to the promotion and welfare of the sport will long be remembered. In 1964, Ted and Grace were inducted into the Wisconsin Trapshooting Hall of Fame.