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Renowned Penn State Peacemaker and Lifelong Leader, William D. Taylor, Retires

William D. Taylor has retired after having served Penn State for since 1963, most recently as director of the Intercollege Research Programs (IRP). "Bill provided strong, intellegent leadership for these programs, and they have progressed because of him," says former Senior Vice President for Research Charles Hosler, who hired Taylor for the postion. "The IRP encompasses a diverse group of people, programs, and requirements. It takes someone as calm, intellegent, and professional as Bill Taylor to lead them.

Taylor took over as IRP director at a difficult time. "Some IRP programs had had rapid successions of leaders and they were experiencing fiscal and morale problems," says Hosler. "But Bill created order out of what could have become chaos, with his calming and gentlemanly demeanor."  Taylor admits that there were some difficult times.  "But," he says, "I treasure the people I worked and interacted with.  That was the trade-off."

Before becoming IRP director, Taylor held a number of other administrative positions and sat on over a dozen university committees.  He held the office of Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education for the Eberly College of Science from 1989 to 1991, he directed the Cooperative Program in Biotechnology from 1988 to 1989, and he was chair of the molecular and cell biology programs from 1983 to 1989.  Taylor's leadership was sought on so many occasions because, according to friend and university legal affiliate Mark Righter, "Bill has a gift for resolving disputes.  He would take inextricably intertwined disputes and carefully and painlessly dissect them, then articulate and implement a logical, creative solution."

Taylor obtained both his bachelor-of-science and doctor-of-philosophy degrees in chemistry from England's Manchester University.  He was conducting post-doctoral studies at Penn State on a fellowship from the National Science Foundation when he first met Harold Schraer, now professor emeritus of cell biology.  "When I and some other faculty members began to put together a biophysics department, I recommended Bill," Schraer says. "He was a fine young man: cheerful, polite, smart, proper, and appropriate. He was not a biophysicist, but he made the transition very well.  He is very adaptable."

It is this adaptability that enabled Taylor to step in to lead, and maintain order in, several programs while full-time appointments were being made.  He was acting dean of the Graduate School in 1995, acting director of the Intercollege Materials Research Institute from 1993 to 1996, and acting director of the Biotechnology Institute from 1990 to 1992.  About the temporary offices he held, Taylor says "These were not career moves, just new and different experiences.  They made my life a little busier, but I had a great time.  All the things I did at Penn State, I enjoyed very much."

Taylor was elected to the University Faculty Senate in the early 1970s and soon became chair.  He was the youngest senator, and he remembers being surprised when the others selected him as their leader.  "Being elected chair of the faculty senate is the highest honor you can get in university politics," he says.

Bill Taylor began his career at Penn State teaching biophysics in 1963.  He helped to establish the undergraduate curriculum for the biophysics department and spent a great deal of time advising undergraduates.  "Bill was a genuinely conscientious teacher and advisor," says Wally Snipes, then professor of biophysics.   "Whenever I had a student with a difficult problem, I always went to Bill for help."  Taylor continued to teach until 1989.  He was instrumental in developing seven courses, including Environmental Biophysics, Introduction to Molecular Biology, and Physical Chemistry of Biological Molecules.

Only eight years after he came to Penn State, Taylor became full professor and head of the department.  "Because he was such a nice young man," says Schraer, "we entrusted him with the position for quite a long time."

"While Bill was department head," says Stanly Person, now professor emeritus of biophysics, "we never took votes."  When Person questionned Taylor about why that was, Taylor responded, "Once you vote on something, your position is set. Let's just talk about it until we all agree."  "But don't misinterpret what I am saying," Person continues, "Bill could deal quickly and effectively with things when he needed too.  He just preferred to resolve the matter without any polarization if he had the time."

For over three decades Taylor, along with the more than 20 graduate students he mentored, studied the cancer-causing and mutation-generating effects that chemicals and ultraviolet light have on viruses and mammalian DNA.  "I remember when I first started out," Taylor says.  "I worked all day and all night in the lab.  That was fun."  Taylor received funding for his research from the National Institue of General Medical Sciences, the National Cancer Institute, and NASA.

Taylor's associates reflect that, as well as being an outstanding administrator, a progressive educator, and a dedicated scientist, Taylor also is an extrodinary person.  Says former student Tom Coohill, "Bill understands the important things in life."  Coohill remembers that Taylor once told him about standing on a bridge in England, looking down at the river, and dropping in the last few cents he owned.  "Bill felt liberated," says Coohill, now a dean at Siena College in Albany, New York.  "He had acheived what Indian mystics say is close to Nirvana--walking around with nothing in your pocket and enjoying the world."

A three-time university squash champion, Taylor has always striven to stay fit and lead a balanced life.  Now, he plans to spend most of his time raising his children; Maria, 9; Daniel, 7; and Timothy, 6.  The time he spent in the various leadership positions should help.  "Bill's well-honed dispute-resolution skills are what make him such a great parent," says Righter.

With Taylor's retirement, Penn State is losing a lifelong leader and advocate for the advancement of the university.  Donald Rung, professor of mathematics and Taylor's longtime friend, articulates the resounding sentiments of Taylor's colleagues: "Bill brought to each position a strong sense of academic tradition.  It was his blend of pragmatism and reverence for the way universities should go about their affairs that gave his tenure at Penn State such a distinctive flavor.  His unyielding honesty, his quick mind, his passion for fairness, and his willingness to play the quiet leadership role are qualities we will miss."
 
 

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This page is maintained by Barbara K. Kennedy: science@psu.edu, (814) 863-4682 and Leta A. Krumrine; LAK15@psu.edu, (814) 863-8453

Last update:  12 January 2000