Elinor Z. Taylor

Elinor Zimmerman Taylor
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 156th district
In office
January 4, 1977[1] – November 30, 2006[2]
Preceded byPatricia Crawford
Succeeded byBarbara McIlvaine Smith
Member of the
West Chester Borough Council
In office
January 7, 1974 – January 4, 1977
Preceded byEdward J. Cotter
Succeeded byNancy Hickman Elters
Personal details
Born(1921-04-18)April 18, 1921
Norristown, Pennsylvania
DiedJuly 27, 2010(2010-07-27) (aged 89)
Stuart, Florida
Political partyRepublican
Alma materWest Chester University
Temple University

Elinor Zimmerman Taylor (April 18, 1921 – July 27, 2010) was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 156th legislative district from 1977 through her retirement in 2006.[3] Taylor served in the House Republican leadership as Majority Caucus Chair.

She attended West Chester High School, graduating in 1939.[3] In 1943, she graduated from West Chester University, where she later received a Doctor of Public Service, honoris causa.[3] In 1958 she earned a Master's in Education from Temple University.[3] At various times, she attended classes at Columbia University and University of Delaware.[3]

She was first elected to represent the 156th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1976. During her career, she focused on higher education and constituent service.[4] In 1982, she famously engineered a deal that led to the downfall of a West Chester University President Charles G. Mayo.[5] She was elected Republican (Majority) Caucus Secretary in 1995 and alter served in the mostly-ceremonial leadership position of caucus chairwoman.[4]

She retired prior to the 2006 elections with her health deteriorating.[4] She said, "My approach has always been the idea that I could make a difference. And as long as I have been able to do that, you end the day with great satisfaction. I'm very very pleased to look back on what I consider to be a very productive experience."[4]

  1. ^ "Session of 1977 - 16lst of the General Assembly - Vol. 1, No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1977-01-04.
  2. ^ Per Article II, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the legislative session ended on November 30, 2006
  3. ^ a b c d e "Elinor Z. Taylor (Republican)". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2006-04-03. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  4. ^ a b c d Lowe, Benjamin Y.; Mario F. Cattabiani (2006-01-04). "A retirement, but no exodus of lawmakers". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2006-01-04.
  5. ^ https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3Aais9830.11.02.0878/pages https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55690763/elinor-z_-taylor