Icon J. Paul Taylor dies at 102

Mesilla/Las Cruces icon J. Paul Taylor died at 3:43 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, surrounded by his loved ones and caregivers at his Mesilla home.

Taylor, who was born Aug. 24, 1920, in Chamberino, New Mexico, served in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1987 to 2005 and was a long-time educator and community activist. Taylor celebrated his 102^nd birthday last August with a visit to the Las Cruces charter school named in his honor.

Taylor grew up on a farm and attended a small county school, graduating from the eighth grade with four other students. He and his wife, Mary, who died in 2005, raised seven children. His 5,000-square-foot home, built in 1858, contains art and artifacts dating to the 18^th century.

Taylor, a Democrat, had strong ties to both major political parties in New Mexico. His mother's grandfather was Miguel Romero y Baca (1798-1880), who met Abraham Lincoln (Taylor died on Lincoln’s birthday) and helped start the Republican Party in New Mexico. Romero y Baca’s son, Trinidad Romero (1835-1918), was elected as a delegate to Congress representing the Territory of New Mexico 1877-79 and later was appointed a U.S. marshal by Republican President Benjamin Harrison.

Taylor’s mother’s family came to New Mexico with the Oñate expedition in 1598.

Taylor graduated from Valley High School (later Gadsden High School) in 1938 and graduated from the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now NMSU) with a degree in history in 1942. He served four years in the United States Navy during World War II. Taylor married his wife of 63 years, Mary Daniels Taylor, in 1944. The couple bought the house on Calle de Principal on the west side of the historic Mesilla plaza in 1952.

Taylor worked for several years for NMA&M before joining the Las Cruces school system in 1951.  During a 34-year career, he would be a teacher, principal and administrator, serving as coordinator of elementary education, director of transportation and physical education and associate superintendent. Taylor oversaw school bond elections and relations with the school board and dealt with truancy issues.

He was on the first board of trustees when the Town of Mesilla incorporated in 1959, and served as mayor pro-tempore.

Taylor lived through the Covid-19 pandemic and remembered his parents talking about the Spanish Flu that killed millions in the 1918-1920 worldwide pandemic.

“My parents were still talking about it,” Taylor told the Bulletin just before his 101^st birthday in 2021. “They were still very cautious.”

Taylor, the youngest of six children, had four sisters and one brother.

His earliest memory, dating from age 3, Taylor said, is of the family farm, the cotton fields around it and the family’s Ford Model-T. He learned to drive at age 14 in a Buick touring car which Helen E. Wood, a friend of Taylor’s mother, gave the family in 1928.

He also remembers the 4-H club he belonged to and taking second place in a corn demonstration contest at what would become New Mexico State University. Taylor’s 4-H coach was Chloe Hampson Donaldson, the mother of retired ABC newsman Sam Donaldson. During his senior year, Taylor remembers a trip to El Paso to meet First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Remembrances

“You would be hard-pressed to find an individual as passionate about the people, culture and communities of New Mexico as J. Paul Taylor,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a prepared statement. “For my own part, I consider him to be a friend and mentor who demonstrated the true heart of a servant, always striving to make New Mexico a better place to live for future generations. I have no doubt that the compassion and integrity he demonstrated throughout his 102 years of life will be felt for hundreds of years to come. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends – as well as the people of New Mexico –for the loss of such a legendary leader and advocate.” 

The governor ordered all flags in the state of New Mexico to be flown at half-mast Feb. 13-15 in Taylor’s honor.

“One of the finest public servants I ever worked with,” said former NMSU Chancellor Garrey Carruthers, who was elected governor of New Mexico in 1986, the first year Taylor was elected to the New Mexico House. “J. Paul was a man of principles who lived and governed accordingly. When I dealt with him, he was always very courteous and understanding and, if we disagreed, he understood and thanked me for my time. The United States and New Mexico governments would be blessed, much more productive, and harmonious if our current leaders and legislators were more like J. Paul Taylor. We have lost a great American.” 

“J. Paul Taylor was truly a New Mexico icon,” said Mayor Ken Miyagishima. His contributions to our state were enormous. May he rest in peace.”

“Paul was a tireless giver who dedicated himself to always serving others,” said state Sen. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, who served with Taylor in the New Mexico House of Representatives. “Whether his wife, Mary, his family or his legislative family, Paul was entirely about being of service. Uncharacteristic of political leaders, Paul served without ego or self-interest, but with integrity and humility. He brought our community together and will continue doing so in his honor.”

As president of the Taylor Friends group, Cynthia Garrett worked closely with Taylor for 14 years and developed a close friendship with him.

“J. Paul Taylor was deeply interested in the well-being and accomplishments of people: a concern that extended to kids and education, his community and the Borderlands, the history and culture of New Mexico, and the world beyond,” Garrett said. “Those interests led Paul, his wife Mary, and their children to donate the family home in Mesilla to the state as a Historic Site. He was a dear friend who has left all of us a rich legacy with caring at its heart.”

“We, at Casa de Peregrinos, join this community and this state in mourning the loss of J. Paul Taylor. This man was an example of how all people should be toward each other, and we are grateful for his steadfast support of our mission and our organization. Our prayers are with the Taylor family. May he rest in peace, love, and prayers.” (Facebook)

“Remembering J Paul Taylor: a beautiful soul who did so much for this world,” said John Muñoz of Electronic Caregiver. “Thank you to his family for sharing him with us. Much love and strong arms around you during this time of loss.” (Facebook)

“Rest in peace honorable J Paul Taylor,” said state Sen. Jeff Steinborn of Las Cruces. “You made it your mission to take care of the vulnerable, preserve and share our history, and generously mentor me and countless others. Our state, community, and lives are better because of you.” (Facebook)