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Taylor was thirty-nine when he was named as the Louisiana Tech president. He presided over the transformation and expanded enrollment of the institution, founded in 1894 and known prior to 1970 as '''Louisiana Polytechnic Institute.''' Many modern buildings were constructed under his watch, some of which, such as Neilson Hall men's dormitory, have since been razed. Under his watch came the Wyly Tower, a library and administrative office complex, Caruthers Hall, the Thomas Assembly Center, the Lambright Intramural Sports Complex]], the Aillet Stadium, and the J. C. Love Field.<ref name=obit/>
Taylor was thirty-nine when he was named as the Louisiana Tech president. He presided over the transformation and expanded enrollment of the institution, founded in 1894 and known prior to 1970 as '''Louisiana Polytechnic Institute.''' Many modern buildings were constructed under his watch, some of which, such as Neilson Hall men's dormitory, have since been razed. Under his watch came the Wyly Tower, a library and administrative office complex, Caruthers Hall, the Thomas Assembly Center, the Lambright Intramural Sports Complex]], the Aillet Stadium, and the J. C. Love Field.<ref name=obit/>
F. Jay Taylor was not the first "Taylor" to have been president of the institution. W. E. Taylor (no relation), a biology professor and partial namesake of the Carson-Taylor Science Building, was the president from 1904 to 1906.<ref>''The Ruston Daily Leader,'' October 11, 1933, p. 20.</ref> Taylor was an active, highly visible president who spoke before educational and civic groups across the state. Prior to 1980, his vice president was Virgil Orr, a former [[chemical engineering]] professor and dean, who served from 1988 to 1992 as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lincoln and Union parishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|
F. Jay Taylor was not the first "Taylor" to have been president of the institution. W. E. Taylor (no relation), a biology professor and partial namesake of the Carson-Taylor Science Building, was the president from 1904 to 1906.<ref>''The Ruston Daily Leader,'' October 11, 1933, p. 20.</ref> Taylor was an active, highly visible president who spoke before educational and civic groups across the state. Prior to 1980, his vice president was Virgil Orr, a former [[chemical engineering]] professor and dean, who served from 1988 to 1992 as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lincoln and Union parishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|
title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Lincoln Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|date=May 21, 2019|accessdate=October 8, 2019}}</ref>
title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Lincoln Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|date=May 21, 2019|accessdate=October 8, 2019}}</ref>
In 1968, Taylor hired [[Wiley Hilburn]] from ''The Shreveport Times'' to revamp the Louisiana Tech Journalism Department and make the college [[newspaper]], ''The Tech Talk,'' more indicative of student viewpoints.<ref name=zoominfo>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Taylor_F._21025046.aspx|title=Dr. F. Jay Taylor|publisher=zoominfo.com|accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref> Taylor told Hilburn to "liberate" the college newspaper, which had previously been a non-controversial journal of mostly honor rolls and academic listings and failed to address student issues, such as the [[Vietnam War]], the [[civil rights]] movement, and the sexual revolution. Hilburn went on to head the journalism department for thirty-one years and to continue to write editorials, columns, and books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200908020115/news01/908010352|author=Bill Campbell|title=Region's dean of journalism leaves editor's mark on generations|date=August 2, 2009|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=August 27, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>
In 1968, Taylor hired [[Wiley Hilburn]] from ''The Shreveport Times'' to revamp the Louisiana Tech Journalism Department and make the college [[newspaper]], ''The Tech Talk,'' more indicative of student viewpoints.<ref name=zoominfo>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Taylor_F._21025046.aspx|title=Dr. F. Jay Taylor|publisher=zoominfo.com|accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref> Taylor told Hilburn to "liberate" the college newspaper, which had previously been a non-controversial journal of mostly honor rolls and academic listings and failed to address student issues, such as the [[Vietnam War]], the [[civil rights]] movement, and the sexual revolution. Hilburn went on to head the journalism department for thirty-one years and to continue to write editorials, columns, and books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200908020115/news01/908010352|author=Bill Campbell|title=Region's dean of journalism leaves editor's mark on generations|date=August 2, 2009|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=August 27, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>
In 1974, Taylor hired Sonja Hogg, then a 28-year-old physical education instructor at Ruston High School, to develop what turned into a nationally successfully women's [[basketball]] team. The program began with a $5,000 appropriation,<ref name=zoominfo/> reached the Final Four in 1979, and won the national championship in 1981. Hogg was succeeded as coach of the Lady Techsters by Leon Barmore, whom she had hired from Ruston High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2009/06/sonja_hogg_built_the_louisiana.html|author=Jim Rapier|title=Sonja Hogg built the Louisiana Tech women's basketball program into a powerhouse|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 24, 2009|accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref>
In 1974, Taylor hired Sonja Hogg, then a 28-year-old physical education instructor at Ruston High School, to develop what turned into a nationally successfully women's [[basketball]] team. The program began with a $5,000 appropriation,<ref name=zoominfo/> reached the Final Four in 1979, and won the national championship in 1981. Hogg was succeeded as coach of the Lady Techsters by Leon Barmore, whom she had hired from Ruston High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2009/06/sonja_hogg_built_the_louisiana.html|author=Jim Rapier|title=Sonja Hogg built the Louisiana Tech women's basketball program into a powerhouse|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 24, 2009|accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref>
Since 1979, Tech has given an annual award in Taylor's name to a successful faculty member engaged in undergraduate teaching duties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latech.edu/universitysenate/fjt-past.shtml|title=F. Jay Taylor – Past Recipients|publisher=latech.edu|accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref> There is also an F. Jay Taylor Eminent Scholar Chair of Journalism<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latechalumni.org/s/810/index.aspx?sid=810&gid=1&pgid=504|title=Endowed Eminent Scholar Chairs and Endowed Professorships|publisher=latechalumni.org|accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref> and an F. Jay Taylor Sports Forum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=28|title=F. Jay Taylor Sports Forum|publisher=latechbbb.com|accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref>
Taylor's tenure at Louisiana Tech corresponded in part with that of George T. Walker, a former [[Northwestern State University]] dean and from 1958 to 1976 the president of the [[University of Louisiana at [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. Under Walker's tenure ULM expanded fourfold in enrollment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=george-thomas-walker&pid=152392279|title=George T. Walker|publisher=''The Monroe News Star''|accessdate=July 6, 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, Arnold Roy Kilpatrick from 1966 to 1978 was the president of NSU in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], Louisiana, a Tech sports rival. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones was president of the historically black Grambling State University in Grambling, located five miles from the Tech campus during this same period.
Taylor's tenure at Louisiana Tech corresponded in part with that of George T. Walker, a former [[Northwestern State University]] dean and the president of the [[University of Louisiana at [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] from 1958 to 1976. Under Walker's tenure ULM expanded fourfold in enrollment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=george-thomas-walker&pid=152392279|title=George T. Walker|publisher=''The Monroe News Star''|accessdate=July 6, 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, Arnold Roy Kilpatrick from 1966 to 1978 was the president of NSU, a Louisiana Tech sports rival. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones was president of the historically black Grambling State University in Grambling, five miles from the Tech campus during this same period.
Taylor was inducted into the Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.
Taylor was inducted into the Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.
[[Attorney]] Sidney "Sid" Moreland, IV, a former Louisiana Tech student body president (Class of 1983) said of Taylor's tenure:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
For twenty-five years, Dr. Taylor led Louisiana Tech on what is broadly known as the most crucially transformational years in Tech's history. It would be impossible to recall almost any aspect of Tech's history without the presence of Dr. Taylor progressively spearheading efforts large and small, from a simple name change to a skyscraper. His efforts made Louisiana Tech a household name throughout the nation and in many parts of the world. He cleverly grew the athletic programs into national prominence to blaze an early path for women in sports, long before it was widely accepted, and for numerous other All-American athletes who became his anointed ambassadors for Tech, and like a great branching tree that he painstakingly cultivated, they helped him put Louisiana Tech on the map.<br>
For twenty-five years, Dr. Taylor led Louisiana Tech on what is broadly known as the most crucially transformational years in Tech's history. It would be impossible to recall almost any aspect of Tech's history without the presence of Dr. Taylor progressively spearheading efforts large and small, from a simple name change to a skyscraper. His efforts made Louisiana Tech a household name throughout the nation and in many parts of the world. He cleverly grew the athletic programs into national prominence to blaze an early path for women in sports, long before it was widely accepted, and for numerous other All-American athletes who became his anointed ambassadors for Tech, and like a great branching tree that he painstakingly cultivated, they helped him put Louisiana Tech on the map.<br>
Taylor's eulogy Sidney "Sid" Moreland, IV, recalled that the students "were fortunate enough to pursue their education under the leadership of Jay Taylor… He epitomized the grace, humility, vision, and the intellectual depth that only a great university deserves. He made us all believe in that greatness and the gift of his tireless work lives on in all of us who were served by him, and blessed that he was ours…"<ref name=taylor/>
Taylor's eulogy Sidney "Sid" Moreland, IV, recalled that the students "were fortunate enough to pursue their education under the leadership of Jay Taylor… He epitomized the grace, humility, vision, and the intellectual depth that only a great university deserves. He made us all believe in that greatness and the gift of his tireless work lives on in all of us who were served by him, and blessed that he was ours…"<ref name=taylor/>
==References==
==References==
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