Hudson toy maker rolls past 50th
Little Tikes celebrated its golden anniversary, inviting founder and longtime Hudson resident Tom Murdough to a June 21 luncheon and commemoration.
Isaac Larian, CEO of privately held Los Angeles-based MGA Entertainment, which bought Little Tikes in 2006, thanked Murdough for starting the Hudson manufacturing plant. It remains the country’s oldest and largest toy factory.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose presents Little Tikes with a proclamation commemorating its 50th anniversary. Photo by J. Stringer
“A lot of people in the industry no longer have the passion, the creativity, that love that Tom has for this industry,” Larian said. “Today Little Tikes is virtually in every corner of the planet. … It is really amazing what he has built here.”
Larian said he recently nominated Murdough for induction into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame and encouraged employees and others at the 50th anniversary party to vote for Murdough’s inclusion in the hall. Murdough thanked Larian for recognizing him and thanked the CEO and employees for sustaining the company.
“I get a thrill of seeing Little Tikes continue to move forward,” he told the crowd.
Murdough also tearfully credited the support of his wife, Joy, as a driving force behind his success, noting that she has been at his side since he suffered a stroke about 15 months ago.
Isaac Larian (l), CEO of privately held Los Angeles-based MGA Entertainment, which owns Hudson-based Little Tikes, honors Tom Murdough, who founded the company in 1969. Photo by J. Stringer
Hudson Mayor David Basil and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who also lives in Hudson, read proclamations commemorating the milestone. LaRose said his father-in-law worked at the plant and his wife had an internship at Little Tikes.
The LeBron James Family Foundation sent a video to congratulate Little Tikes and thank the company for its 5-year-old partnership with the foundation. Together, the organizations created a line of co-branded licensed toys, including a mini-basketball hoop, and Little Tikes donated toys to the foundation and hosted factory tours for students from LeBron’s I Promise School.
Murdough, who founded Little Tikes in 1969, went on to start Streetsboro toymaker Step2 in 1991 and Simplay3 in 2016.
Featured image photo caption: Octavia Stanley, 19 months, of Medina, hangs out in a vintage playhouse that is part of an onsite museum memorializing Little Tikes’ toys. Photo by J. Stringer