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2014 SESSION
WHEREAS, Rear Admiral Raynor A. K. Taylor, USN (Ret.), a man who redefined community involvement in Hampton Roads, died on September 3, 2013; and
WHEREAS, born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on December 22, 1935, Raynor “Ray” Taylor excelled in math, physics, and geography at New Bedford High School and later attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on an academic scholarship for two years; and
WHEREAS, after completing two years at RPI, Ray Taylor earned a competitive Congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he served as editor of the Lucky Bag yearbook and graduated as a member of the class of 1960; and
WHEREAS, together with his devoted wife, Mary Jane, Ray Taylor enjoyed a distinguished 33-year Navy career and achieved the rank of Rear Admiral; and
WHEREAS, Rear Admiral Taylor was a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer and served in the engineering departments of the USS Abbot (DD-629) and USS Hoel (DDG-13); he was the main propulsion assistant on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and the executive officer of the USS Halsey (CG-23); and
WHEREAS, Rear Admiral Taylor served as commanding officer of the USS Semmes (DDG-18), the USS Mississippi (CGN-40), and the Surface Warfare Officers School; as Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group One, he commanded the New Jersey Battle Group, the Navy’s first modern-era battleship battle group; and
WHEREAS, Rear Admiral Taylor believed that overseas tours provided opportunities for lasting memories and learning; he was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Grenoble, France, from 1967 to 1969, earning a Diplome d'Etat in Political Science, and later earned a master’s degree in area studies from American University in Washington, D.C.; from 1987 to 1989 he served as a J-3 (Operations) at Headquarters US European Command in Stuttgart, West Germany; and
WHEREAS, during Desert Storm, Rear Admiral Taylor served as Commander Middle East Force; in April 1991, he was assigned as Commander Naval Forces Central Command and led a successful multi-nation effort that cleared over 1,200 mines from the northern Persian Gulf; and
WHEREAS, upon Rear Admiral Taylor’s retirement from the United States Navy, Mary Jane wrote his final set of orders after 25 Navy career moves, and the wonderful couple made Hampton Roads their home; he enjoyed a second career and retirement from the Innovation Center at Newport News Shipbuilding; and
WHEREAS, after a long career of serving his country, retirement for Ray Taylor was an opportunity to serve his community by immersing himself in bettering the region; as a brilliant man and a visionary, he led by example; and
WHEREAS, Ray Taylor became the President of the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads and then joined Future of Hampton Roads (FHR), a volunteer think tank organization that seeks solutions to future regional issues; at FHR, Ray Taylor volunteered to lead the study group tasked with analyzing the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the federally mandated transportation planning arm of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission; and
WHEREAS, Ray Taylor worked on improving the MPO for over a decade and was instrumental in its transformation into the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO); with Ray’s input, the HRTPO operated with improved processes, enabling the organization to speak with a unified and prioritized message; and
WHEREAS, with the same level of commitment, Ray Taylor moved on to promote high-speed rail projects for Hampton Roads; and
WHEREAS, Ray Taylor was named Hampton Roads Regionalist of the Year in 2010 and the region’s Military Visionary Leader in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Ray Taylor possessed an amazing attention to detail, focus, and depth of knowledge, especially in the area of transportation; he shared his expertise with many local and state elected officials, state agency directors, and community leaders along the way; and
WHEREAS, Ray Taylor spoke passionately and eloquently on many topics, but could detail his vision for transportation in the Hampton Roads Region for hours in that wonderful Bostonian accent that never left him; he would always bring along fliers, pictures, charts, graphs, and a full report; and
WHEREAS, Rear Admiral Taylor served and sacrificed for his country and the Hampton Roads Region, and his spirit and commitment live on through those who continue to serve; as David Bell, the president of Future of Hampton Roads, stated: “Ray’s shoes will never be filled, but my hope is that many will follow in his footsteps”; and
WHEREAS, a devoted family man and a renaissance man, Ray Taylor will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by the love of his life, his wife of 53 years, Mary Jane; his two sons, Raynor and Andrew; Andrew’s wife, Lili, and their children, Michael and Michelle; many other family members and friends; and fellow members of the United States Navy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Rear Admiral Raynor A. K. Taylor, USN (Ret.); and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Rear Admiral Raynor A. K. Taylor, USN (Ret.), as an expression of the General Assembly’s acknowledgement of his supreme sacrifice and their sincere gratitude for his noble service to the Commonwealth and our great nation.