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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 38
BY SENATOR THOMPSON
CONDOLENCES. Expresses sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Dr. Foster
Jay Taylor.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Dr.2
Foster Jay Taylor.3
WHEREAS, Foster Jay Taylor was born August 9, 1923, in Gibsland, Louisiana, in4
Bienville Parish and graduated from Gibsland High School in 1940; and5
WHEREAS, he attended Louisiana Tech as a student for four semesters but then6
enlisted in the United States Navy, where he completed aviation training in 1943, and was7
commissioned as an ensign; and8
WHEREAS, as a Navy pilot, he logged two thousand hours of flight time during9
World War II and was sent to the Pacific theater for two tours of duty, rose to the rank of10
lieutenant commander, and was honorably discharged in 1946; and11
WHEREAS, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in social science in 1948 from12
the University of California at Berkeley, and in 1949 he obtained a Master of Arts from13
Claremont Graduate University; and14
WHEREAS, he was later named to the Claremont Alumni Hall of Fame and procured15
his Ph.D. in history and government in 1952 from Tulane University in New Orleans,16
Louisiana; and17
WHEREAS, prior to his service at Louisiana Tech, Dr. Taylor became an associate18 SCR NO. 38
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professor of history, dean of men, and dean of the Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in1
Pineville in Rapides Parish; and2
WHEREAS, at the age of thirty-nine, Dr. Taylor was named as the Louisiana Tech3
president and presided over the transformation and expanded enrollment of the institution4
founded in 1894, known prior to 1970 as Louisiana Polytechnic Institute; and5
WHEREAS, he was an historian who served from 1962 to 1987 as the president of6
Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, in Lincoln Parish; and7
WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor was a visible president who spoke before educational and8
civic groups across the state and believed that the university should pursue excellence in9
academics; and10
WHEREAS, under his leadership, numerous modern buildings were constructed,11
such as the Wyly Tower, a library and administration office complex, the Thomas Assembly12
Center, the Lambright Intramural Sports Complex, the Aillet Stadium, and the J.C. Love13
Field; and14
WHEREAS, he expanded the graduate program of Louisiana Tech to include new15
master and doctoral degrees in several fields, all of which earned national recognition or16
accreditation while also expanding the summer programs in Mexico and Italy; and17
WHEREAS, in 1968, Dr. Taylor hired Wiley W. Hilburn from the Shreveport Times18
to revamp the Louisiana Tech Journalism Department and make the college newspaper, The19
Tech Talk, more indicative of student viewpoints; and20
WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor was a man who believed in the First Amendment and21
established a campus media free of administrative interference and for many years, answered22
any and all student questions in a column published weekly in the campus newspaper and23
treated student reporters and editors as the professionals they would some day become; and24
WHEREAS, in 1974, Dr. Taylor hired Sonja Hogg, then a twenty-eight year old25
physical education instructor at Ruston High School, to develop what turned into a nationally26
successful women's basketball team, reaching the Final Four in 1979, and winning the27
national championship in 1981; and28
WHEREAS, since 1979, Louisiana Tech has been given an annual award in Dr.29
Taylor's name to a successful faculty member engaged in undergraduate teaching duties and30 SCR NO. 38
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there is also an F. Jay Taylor Eminent Scholar Chair of Journalism and an F. Jay Taylor1
Sports Forum; and2
WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor has authored two books including The United States and the3
Spanish Civil War published in 1956 and reprinted in 1971 and The Reluctant Rebel: The4
Secret Diary of Robert Patrick stemming from the translation of a diary written by this5
private in the Confederate Army; and6
WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor served on several state and national boards and commissions,7
a nationally recognized expert in the field of labor arbitration, chairman of the Labor-8
Management Commission of Inquiry, National Academy of Arbitrators, labor panels of the9
American Arbitration Association, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; and10
WHEREAS, he was a member of the Ruston Rotary International and served on the11
boards of the Ruston Chamber of Commerce and Ruston Civic Club; and12
WHEREAS, in 1971, the University of California Alumni Association cited Dr.13
Taylor for outstanding achievement and honored him at the school's homecoming and, in14
1985, he was similarly recognized by his alma mater, Tulane, as an outstanding alumnus of15
the graduate school; and16
WHEREAS, upon his death on May 15, 2011, at the age of eighty seven, Dr. Taylor17
was succeeded as the Louisiana Tech president by his vice president, Daniel Reneau, who18
described Dr. Taylor as a great leader, builder, a great president and senior statesman; and19
WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Lou, son Terry and his wife20
Bernardine of Batavia, Ohio; grandson, Andrew Taylor and his wife Dr. Cathy Taylor of21
Gainesville, Florida; granddaughter, Jennifer Williams and her husband Greg of West Palm22
Beach, Florida, as well as four great grandchildren, Carlee and Ellie Taylor and Tommy and23
Rebecca Williams; and24
WHEREAS, this extraordinary man clearly demonstrated during his life a dedication25
to family, education, community, state, and his country; and26
WHEREAS, the numerous accomplishments of Dr. Taylor in public and private life27
reflected his courage, compassion and commitment to the others; and28
WHEREAS, upon his death, the state has lost a unique individual who left an29
indelible mark upon his community, Louisiana Tech and the lives of those who knew him;30 SCR NO. 38
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and1
WHEREAS, as we seek to offer the family of Dr. Taylor whatever comfort we can,2
we want them to know that their fellow citizens are aware of their loss, and desire to3
commend Dr. Foster Jay Taylor, on his commitment to Louisiana, and extend Louisiana's4
most sincere condolences; and5
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,6
and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure on people like Dr.7
Foster Jay Taylor.8
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby9
honor the life of Dr. Foster Jay Taylor, pays tribute to his remarkable legacy, and offers its10
sincere condolences to his family on behalf of the citizens of the state of Louisiana.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his12
widow, Lou K. Taylor.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
Thompson SCR No. 38
Expresses condolences upon the death of Dr. Foster Jay Taylor.