With the recent passing of J. Paul Taylor (age 102), our state, county, community, and educational system have lost a strong leader and ardent humanitarian. As documented by Ana Pacheco in her book, J. Paul Taylor: The Man from Mesilla, he was deeply respected as a humanitarian, an educator, a community builder, a legislator, and a strong supporter of social justice. 

Born to a farming family in 1920 in Chamberino, NM, he graduated from Valley High in 1938. After graduating from New Mexico State University in 1942 with a degree in history, he enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. In 1945, as a navel yeoman second class, he married Mary Daniels in El Paso. The couple lived in New Orleans until the end of the war, when he was offered a job as NMSU’s associate registrar, earning $200 a month.

The couple lived in several homes in the Mesilla Valley area before settling in a historic adobe house near San Albino Parish in Old Mesilla. The home needed extensive repairs, but J. Paul and Mary were not afraid of hard work. They worked on repairs for years and happily hosted family and friends who were passing through town, including J. Paul’s cousin, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert, a celebrated educator, activist, and writer who worked for NMSU’s Extension Service as agent to New Mexico’s northern district.

J. Paul was dedicated to education and taught at many schools in Southern New Mexico. He was determined to give students the best education possible and challenged each one to excellence. As his career took shape, he became what was called a “teaching principal,” teaching classes during the day, and doing administrative work at day’s end. At Alameda Elementary, most of his students were Hispanic. As their teacher he integrated their shared heritage of Hispanic history and language into the classroom. While working in the public school system, J. Paul maintained a strong connection with NMSU. Six of his seven children graduated from NMSU. 

J. Paul worked 39 years in the area’s school systems and was looking forward to retirement when Mary Helen Garcia, then elementary principal of Las Cruces Public School, suggested he run for governor. He declined, but in 1986 was persuaded to run for office as representative for Doña Ana County, a position he held until 2004.

But J. Paul had so many things yet to accomplish. In 2005, he started the J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium at NMSU. In 2007, he lost his beloved wife Mary, but J. Paul continued his service. In 2008, the J. Paul Taylor Visitor’s Center opened in Mesilla, followed by the Office of Child Development in 2010. In 2011, the J. Paul Taylor Academy opened in Las Cruces.

The family’s New Mexico legacy will continue. The J. Paul Taylor Collection of documents, photos and books is housed at the NMSU Archives. The Taylors bequeathed their home to the Museum of New Mexico, along with collections of Spanish Colonial, Mexican, and New Mexican artwork. The Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site will eventually be open to the public.