Jesse Louis Taylor Jr.

Born in Houston on March 31, 1935, he was the son of Jesse Louis Taylor, Sr. and Zonetta Frankie (Blair) Taylor. He was a 1953 graduate of Jefferson Davis High School (now known as Northside High School), where he played basketball and served as the president of the senior class. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1959 with a degree in Geology. He briefly attended law school at South Texas College of Law. J.L. worked for the Houston Chamber of Commerce for 27 years, ultimately serving as the International Director under former Houston mayor, Louie Welch. He was instrumental in the business growth in the city of Houston as he traveled the United States and the world to educate and inform business leaders on the substantial benefits of moving their business headquarters to Houston. During his career with the Houston Chamber of Commerce until 1985, he saw the Houston area population increase from 1.0 million to 2.6 million people.

J.L. was a long-time member of Houston’s First Baptist Church, serving on the Long-Range Planning Committee as the church moved from downtown Houston to its current location on the Katy Freeway. He also served as the production manager of the church’s Christmas Pageant in its early days at Jones Hall and as the unofficial photographer of the Christmas Pageant for many years.

J.L. loved sports and the Texas Longhorns, holding season tickets to football games in Austin for many years. Watching the Texas Longhorns win the Rose Bowl in person was one of his happiest moments. He took great pride in teaching his sons to play and love baseball, basketball, football and other sports. He was a well-read person with an extensive library who never stopped learning. He believed deeply in the importance of a college education and graduate degrees where possible. As a grandparent, he attended his grandchildren’s sporting events, concerts and recitals all over Houston and was keenly interested in each of their successes.

In addition to his wife, J.L. leaves a legacy in his children, Darrell Taylor and his wife, Lisa; and David Taylor and his wife, Marsha; and in his brother Jim Taylor and his wife Margaret. He also leaves his grandchildren, Morgan Taylor Pruet and her husband, Ronald (Tripp); Brooks Taylor and his wife, Lamar; Catherine Taylor Brown and her husband, Will; Graham Taylor; Caroline Taylor; and Colton Taylor; and one great grandchild, Turner Burton Pruet. He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private burial will be at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, and a memorial service will be held in the Worship Center at Houston’s First Baptist Church at 1:00 pm on Monday, July 12, 2021. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Houston’s First Baptist Church or The Cottage of Spring Branch.