Austin Starke Taylor Jr. (July 2, 1922 – October 27, 2014) was mayor of Dallas, Texas, from 1983 to 1987, and a cotton investor.
Starke Taylor | |
|---|---|
| 53rd Mayor of Dallas | |
| In office 1983–1987 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Wilson Evans |
| Succeeded by | Annette Strauss |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Austin Starke Taylor Jr. July 2, 1922 Paris, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 27, 2014 (aged 92) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Delores Myrlee Burris, Carolyn Wray Norman Markle |
| Alma mater | Rice University |
| Occupation | Cotton investor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | World War II |
Biography
editTaylor was born on July 2, 1922, in Paris, Texas, in Lamar County to Austin Starke Taylor Sr. and Veryl Georgette Lamb. He married Delores Myrlee Burris, daughter of Clarke E. Burris on August 29, 1942, in Durant, Oklahoma.[1] They had three children: Austin Starke III, Janet Charlene, and Charles Claiborne. He and Mrs. Taylor divorced in 1973. He married Carolyn Wray Norman Markle on April 7, 1973, in Dallas.
Starke Taylor graduated from Highland Park High School in 1939 where he was editor of the yearbook. In 1943 he graduated from Rice University, at the time called Rice Institute. While there he was elected president of the sophomore class.
He served in the Navy during World War II. His father, Starke Taylor Sr., was involved in buying and selling cotton and served a term as mayor of Highland Park. Stark Taylor Jr. joined his father's firm in 1946 and assumed control when is father retired in 1962. He sold the firm in 1982.[2]
He served on the Parks and Recreation Board under Jack Evans. He defeated City Councilman and former Mayor Wes Wise in an election where he outspent the other candidate 10 to 1.[3] In his 1985 re-election campaign, he defeated Max Goldblatt.
Starke Taylor Jr., CEO, Taylor Investments was on the 2012 AT&T College Bowl Board.[4] He was also president of the Cotton Council International.
Death
editTaylor died at his home in Dallas on October 27, 2014.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Wedding of Deloris Burris, Starke Taylor Jr. Revealed. Dallas Morning News, February 7, 1943, page 3
- ^ "Mayor of the Unfinished City." Texas Monthly. October, 1983, pgs 149-153, 222-229. (accessed February 7, 2011 Google Books)
- ^ "Cotton Investor Elected As Mayor of Dallas." The New York Times. April 4, 1983.(accessed February 7, 2011)
- ^ AT&T Cotton Bowl Board
- ^ "Former Dallas mayor, Starke Taylor, dies at age 92". Dallas News.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.