Taylor, John Reid

TAYLOR, REID, WILLIAMS, SHAY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/26/2014 at 16:12:29

The Chicago (IL) Tribune
Feb. 24, 1998

JOHN REID TAYLOR, RETIRED LAW PARTNER, GENERAL COUNSEL

John Reid Taylor, 80, of Glencoe, died Feb. 17 in Indian River Memorial Hospital, Vero Beach, Fla.

Mr. Taylor was a partner at the Chicago law firm of Sidley, Austin, Burgess and Smith before moving to Internation Minerals & Chemical Corp., where he served as senior vice president, secretary and general counsel before retiring in 1979.

He began his career as a messenger for the Chicago Tribune, where he became the first recipient of a Chicago Tribune scholarship in 1934.

His mother, Jessie Reid Taylor, worked at the Tribune as a chaperone for the Tribune beauty contestants during the World's Fair if 1933. Later she wrote the column, "A Friend in Need," under the pseudonym, Sally Joy Brown.

Mr. Taylor's wife, Betty, also worked at the Tribune and was a freelance reporter from 1966 to 1979.

Mr. Taylor graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Northwestern University in 1938 with a degree in economics. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1942, where he was a member of the Law Review.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Mr. Taylor served as lieutenant senior grade aboard the destroyer USS Pritchett in the Pacific theater during World War II.

In addition to his wife, survivors include one daughter, Myla Anne Taylor Williams; one grandson, Taylor; one sister, Marilyn Shay; and one brother,Myles Taylor.

A memorial service was held in Vero Beach. Plans are pending for a service at the Glencoe Union Church.