W. H. Taylor

William Henry “Jack” Taylor (1917-1996) was an American Cooperative Extension educator and administrator who served briefly as acting director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (now Alabama Cooperative Extension System).

Early life

Taylor grew up on a farm in Clay County near Lineville, Alabama, graduating from the local high school and later enrolling at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1940. Following his graduation from API, Taylor served in the U.S. Army during World War II, attaining the rank of captain.

He began his thirty-year Alabama Extension career following a brief stint as a Farm Security Administration supervisor. He came up through the ranks of Alabama Extension after being hired as an assistant agent in Lee County in 1946. He was promoted to county agent in 1948, serving in that position until 1957. "W.H. Taylor," Book of Memories, Epsilon Sigma Phi, 1992.]

Career

Taylor later secured a Farm Foundation Scholarship to complete his master’s degree and doctorate at Cornell University.

His first administrative role was as an Extension district director, supervising agents in 22 north Alabama counties. He was later promoted to associate director of field operations, supervising county staffs throughout the state.

As an Extension administrator, Taylor also served on several statewide councils and committees that affected both Alabama and U.S. agriculture.

Following the retirement of Ralph Jones, Taylor was promoted to acting director, serving from July 1, 1974 to Sept. 1, 1975.

Taylor earned numerous honors in the course of his career, including being named one of the “Personalities of the South in 1972.” He was also listed in “Men of Achievement” and in the International Biographical Center in Cambridge, England.

He was a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Extension honorary society, and Gamma Sigma Delta, the agricultural honorary society."W.H. Taylor," Book of Memories, Epsilon Sigma Phi, 1992.]

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