| Membership level: Hall of Fame Dr. Gordon A. Taylor, Jr. Inductee Year 2015 |  |
| Dr. Gordon A. Taylor Jr. ’64 earned a Bachelor of Business from Western Illinois University, and a M.B.A. and Ph.D. in Management at the University of Florida. Returning to his undergraduate alma mater in 1970, Taylor began his career as an assistant professor in the College of Business for 8 years prior to assuming various positions in Alumni Programs where he retired as Associate Vice-President of Alumni Programs and Development in 2008 after 38 years of service. At WIU, Taylor built an award-winning alumni program including 7 awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) culminating in Western’s selection as a recipient of the Grand Gold Award for overall alumni programming in 1994. He served as CASE 5 Program Chair in 1994 and Conference Chair in 1995. Appointed to the National Educational Alumni Trust (NEAT) Executive Committee, Dr. Taylor was elected as chair for two years. Gordy is known for his communication skills including motivational speaking with a common sense approach. WIU’s quarterly alumni newspaper, the Western News, included a much-read and popular column authored by Taylor entitled “Across the Miles” in which he discussed the human experience as it relates to higher education. Subsequently, a university television one-hour interview program evolved with Dr. Taylor interviewing faculty, alumni, administrators, and local personalities. To date, over 250 “Across the Miles” programs have been recorded and provides a link between the university and local communities. In terms of community service, Gordy was selected as Citizen of the Year, received the Chamber of Commerce’s President’s Award, and the Macomb Community Quality of Life Award. He annually is the kick-off speaker for the Chamber Leadership Academy. Taylor coached both youth baseball and basketball. Taylor is a recipient of WIU’s Alumni Achievement and Distinguished Alumni Awards. The Dr. Gordon A. Taylor Student Leadership Award at Western honors outstanding graduating seniors. Gordy and Diane Taylor reside in Macomb, IL, and are parents of Jennifer, Gordon III, and Ryan. |
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