==Background==
Taylor was born in Gibsland in Bienville Parish to Lawrence Foster Taylor (1892–1977) and the former Marcia Aline Jay (1898–1993).<ref>''Who's Who in America'', 43rd edition, Vol. 2, ([[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]: Marquis Who's Who, 1984–1985), p. 3225.</ref> He graduated from Gibsland High School in 1940.<ref name=diary>"Gibsland High Grad Edits Civil War Diary," ''Minden Press,'' May 4, 1959, p. 13.</ref> He then attended Louisiana Tech as a student for four semesters from 1940 to 1942. In May 1942, he enlisted in the [[United States Navy]].<ref name=obit>[[Greg Hilburn]], "Former Tech President F. Jay Taylor dies at 87", ''The Alexandria Town Talk'' and ''The Monroe News-Star,'' May 16, 2011.</ref> He completed aviation training in 1943 and was commissioned as an ensign. As a Navy pilot, he logged two thousand hours of flight time during [[World War II]]. He was sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations for two tours of duty and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander. He was honorably discharged from military service in 1946.<ref name=taylor>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=f-jay-taylor&pid=151095320|title=Dr. F. Jay Taylor|publisher=''The Shreveport Times,'' May 17, 2011|accessdate=May 17, 2011}}</ref><ref name=mphfjt>''La. Tech president to address Lions," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' January 21, 1981, p. 1.</ref>
Taylor received his Bachelor of Arts degree in social science in 1948 from the [[University of California at Berkeley]].<ref name=mpress>"President of Tech Set as Speaker Here," ''Minden Press,'' July 9, 1962, p. 1.</ref> In 1949, he obtained a [[Master of Arts]] from Claremont Graduate University, also in [[California]]. He was later named to the Claremont Alumni Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alumnicommunity.cgu.edu/s/221/index.aspx?sid=221&gid=1&pgid=276|title=Claremont Graduate University Alumni Hall of Fame|publisher=alumnicommunity.cgu.edu|accessdate=December 17, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref> He procured his [[Ph.D.]] in history and government in 1952 from [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]].<ref name=mpress/>
==Louisiana Tech presidency==