TAYLOR, JOSEPH J. (1869-1943). Joseph J. Taylor, newspaper editor, was born in Wilson, North Carolina, on July 13, 1869. He moved to Texas about 1884, settled on a farm near Clarksville, and between odd jobs got two years of high school education. In 1889 he secured half interest in the Clarksville Times and, without previous experience, began his newspaper career. On January 27, 1897, he married Maggie Lamb of Clarksville. In 1904 he moved to Dallas to become editorial writer and subsequently Sunday editor of the Dallas Morning News.qvIn 1908 he began writing the column called "State Press" and in 1937 became editor in chief. His columns and editorials, noted for their dry humor, showed a keen knowledge of economics and philosophy. In June 1920 Baylor University gave Taylor the LL.D. degree. He was the organizer of the Bonehead Club and a member of the Dallas Athletic Club, the Town and Gown Club, and the Knife and Fork Club. In 1938 he wrote the introduction to Sam Hanna Acheson's history of the Dallas Morning News, 35,000 Days in Texas. In May 1942 Taylor was acclaimed the outstanding editor of Texas by unanimous vote of the North and East Texas Press Association. He died at his home in Dallas on May 24, 1943.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Dallas Morning News, May 25, 1943.
