Frank Charles Taylor Jr.

Some people knew him as the Duke of Dixie, while others knew him as Louie the Leprechaun. Some who worked for him called him Frantic Frank. By whatever moniker, Frank Taylor was truly one of a kind – a character who was larger than life – Irrepressible, pugnacious, and always entertaining.

Frank Charles Taylor, Jr. was born in Newark, NJ on June 4, 1936, to Frank C. Taylor, Sr. and Katherine Browne Taylor. He had one sibling, a younger sister named Margaret (“Peggy”), who would later marry Dr. Vincent McDermott. As a teenager, it was not uncommon for Frank to skip school and take a train into Brooklyn to see his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers (‘Dem Bums) and his childhood idol, centerfielder Duke Snider. That earned him the nickname “Duke,” which stuck with him the rest of his life. He was a 1954 graduate of Grover Cleveland High in West Caldwell, NJ. He then graduated with a business degree in 1958 from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Frank was so proud of his Ivy League education that if you knew him for more than five minutes, you likely heard him brag about that. Following Wharton, Frank served in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring from active duty in 1961 with the rank of Captain – another achievement about which you likely heard him brag.

In the fall of 1958, Frank’s cousin introduced him to Mary Julia McGroarty, daughter of Joseph and Ida McGroarty of Mahanoy City, PA. One of their first dates was the Marine Corps Ball on November 10, 1958. They later made a trip to New York City where they would see their first Broadway show together, the original production of “The Music Man” with Robert Preston. The song “Til There Was You” would become “their song” for the rest of their lives. They married in Lakewood, PA on July 18, 1959. After leaving active duty, Frank entered the hotel business in Boston, MA. That’s where their eldest son was born in April 1961, Frank Charles Taylor III (“Chet”). Frank soon became Sales Manager of the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC, then General Manager of the Sheraton-Silver Spring, MD. While living in Bowie, MD, Frank and Mary welcomed their second child, Kevin Patrick Taylor, in December 1962, then their third, Sharon Ann Taylor, in April 1964.

In early 1965, Frank became General Manager of the Sheraton Motor Inn on Union Avenue in Memphis, TN, across the street from Baptist Hospital. Three years later, Sheraton tried to transfer him to another hotel in the Northeast, but he refused the transfer. Frank and Mary had come to love Memphis – the Duke was now the Duke of Dixie. Of primary importance to them were the many strong friendships they had developed, primarily through the Memphis Jaycees, and in their neighborhood in the Raleigh suburb of Memphis. Those friendships would last a lifetime. In December 1968, Frank and Mary welcomed their fourth and last child, Scott Joseph Taylor.

Although Frank had refused Sheraton’s attempt to transfer him, he accepted their subsequent offer to have him lead their franchise sales efforts in the Southeast Region. The timing was impeccable as there was this small town in Central Florida that was working on a new Disney project that seemed to have some potential. In the Orlando area alone, Frank would sell around 25 franchises. After many years at Sheraton, he was hired away in the late 70s by the competition, Choice Hotels, where he would work until his early retirement in 1998. At his retirement ceremony, one speaker stated that if the Guinness Book of World Records kept track of hotel franchise sales, no doubt Frank would hold that record. In addition to selling hotel franchises, Frank at one time owned and operated several hotels, including the Sheraton Motor Inn (the same one he previously managed), the Sheraton Skyport, and the Royce Hotel in West Palm Beach, FL.

For about five years in the late 70s and early 80s, Frank and Mary owned Doebler’s Dock Restaurant in downtown Memphis, next door to the Pier Restaurant. Doebler’s was known for its Southern-fried catfish, the piano bar with Mary Jane Collins, and the many talented singing waiters and waitresses. Frank was fond of saying, “We don’t interview for new waiters – we hold auditions.” Doebler’s was known for its fun and excitement, taking on the personality of its patriarch.

Frank’s other interests, activities, and accomplishments are simply too numerous to cover them all, so here’s a quick list of some of them:

• Memphis Jaycee of the Year (1966-67).

• Co-Chairman, U.S. Jaycees 1971 Ten Outstanding Young Men of America (honorees included Elvis Presley).

• President, Countrywood Homeowners Association.

• Founding Communicant, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church of Cordova.

• Minister of the Word and Minister of the Eucharist for St. Francis.

• Member, Knights of Columbus, including hosting many events for the Knights at Frank and Mary’s house on the 15th fairway of the Colonial Country Club South Course.

• Louie the Leprechaun, who for more than 20 years led the Memphis St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and performed the “blessing of the kegs” at Silky O’Sullivan’s on Beale Street.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Mary, who passed away on March 23, 2010; his sister, Peggy McDermott, who passed away in October 2023; and his brother-in-law, Vince McDermott, who passed away in February 2023.

Frank is survived by his four children: Chet Taylor of Phoenix, AZ; Kevin Taylor of Cordova, TN; Sharon Rudolph (Courtnay) of Collierville, TN; and Scott Taylor (Celia) of Plantation, FL. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Robert Taylor (Andrea), Taylor Rudolph Sheppard (Scott), Josie Taylor, Vickie Taylor, Jake Rudolph, Mary Taylor Xu (Ruihong “Fred”), Cameron Taylor, and Ryan Taylor. Frank has one great-granddaughter: Kennedy Ann Rudolph.

A visitation for Frank will be held Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8151 Chimneyrock Blvd., Memphis, TN 38016. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, 8151 Chimneyrock Blvd., Memphis, TN 38016. A burial will occur Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Memorial Gardens, 3700 N Germantown, Bartlett, TN 38133.