He was a prime contributor to the regional approach to Modern architecture created in the Northwest in the post-World War II era.
In 1941, Terry won an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Langley Scholarship which allowed him to tour South America and see many examples of the region's early Modern buildings.
The firm designed custom houses, restaurants and other small buildings, usually in wood and other natural materials, and began to emerge as leaders in Northwest regional Modern architecture.
In 1950, Tucker, Shields & Terry and Wimberly & Cook were hired to design the Seattle restaurant Canlis.
In his later years, Terry lived quietly at his property near Mount Vernon, Washington.