Chester W. Taylor Jr.

TAYLOR, Chester W. Jr., 80, of Dade City, died Saturday, August 6, 2005, at Heritage Park Care Center. Born in Sanford, he grew up in was educated in Dade City, and married Vera Russell, who died in 1970. A Dade City resident, he was a distinguished educator and public servant, who was superintendent of the Pasco County school system for 16 years, serving from 1956 until 1972. He was a combat veteran of World War II and was recalled during the Korean Conflict, serving as an infantry training officer at Fort Jackson, S.C. He also commanded the Army Reserve Unit in Dade City for seven years and requested transfer to Retired Reserve in 1962, with over 17 years of active duty and active reserve time. He earned a bachelor's and a master's degree at the University of Florida and completed 27 hours in the doctoral program when he was elected school superintendent of Pasco County. In 1972, Mr. Taylor became part of the staff of St. Leo College (now University), coordinating the real estate program, devoting 2 -1/2 years to planning, organizing, registering and supervising real estate classes for approximately 6,400 students all over the state of Florida. In 1974, he was selected to lead, as dean, the St. Leo College Military Education Program (MEP) which was in its earliest stages of development. As MEP grew from a single-site beginning at MacDill Air Force Base to resident centers in five states, providing the guidance and strength necessary through the complex challenges that accompanied program growth. He retired from St. Leo in 1988. In addition, Chester Taylor was a past director of Florida School Superintendent's Association; was, from 1958-1972, a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida West Coast Educational Television, WEDU; in 1963 was listed in the Who's Who in American Education, and was a member of the Florida State Vocational Advisory Council from 1971-1977. He received both the Jaycee's Distinguished Service Award and the Dade City Rotary Club's Citizenship Award , and from 1978-1988 he served as a charter member of the Florida State Advisory Council on Military Education. Throughout his career he held an active membership in the American Association of School Administrators and was chairman of numerous community and civic associations. Additionally, Mr. Taylor was responsible for laying the groundwork which eventually made Pasco-Hernando Community College a reality, and for the campuses' eventual location in Dade City. Survivors include two daughters, Karen Pike and husband Charlie of Lake Worth, and Ann Filip and husband Chris of Port St. Lucie; two sons, Rusty Taylor and wife Kathy of Port St. Lucie, and Chet Taylor, DVM, of Dade City; 14 grandchildren, Katy, Betsy, Chad, Amy, Charley, Emily, Heather, Ryan, Bryan, Kacy, Scotty, Jeremy, Tristan and Becca; one great-grandchild, Katlynn; and two brothers-in-law, Joe Russell of West Palm Beach and Hugh Papworth Sr. of Clearwater Beach. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. today, Sunday, August 7, 2005, at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, August 8, 2005, in the chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home, 5th Street Chapel, with the Rev. Randall Belcher officiating. Burial will follow with full military honors at Floral Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Florida Lions Camp for the Disabled, 2819 Tiger Lake Road, Lake Wales, FL 33898. HODGES FAMILY FUNERAL HOME 5th STREET CHAPEL DADE CITY, FLA. (352) 567-0000