Austin Starke Taylor, Junior. was mayor of Dallas, Texas, from 1983 to 1987, and a cotton investor.
Background
Austin Starke Taylor was born on July 2, 1922 in Paris, Texas in Lamar County to Austin Starke Taylor, Senior and Veryl Georgette Lamb. He married Delores Myrlee Burris, daughter of Clarke E. Burris on August 29, 1942 in Durant, Oklahoma.
Career
They had three children: Austin Starke III, Janet Charlene and Charles Claiborne. He and Mistress Taylor divorced in 1973. Starke Taylor graduated from Highland Park High School in 1939 where he was editor of the yearbook.
In 1943 he graduated from Rice University, at the time called Rice Institute.
While there he was elected president of the sophomore class. He served in the Navy during World World War World War II His father, Starke Taylor, Senior, was involved in buying and selling cotton and served a term as mayor of Highland Park.
Stark Taylor, Junior. joined his father"s firm in 1946 and assumed control when is father retired in 1962. He sold the firm in 1982.
He served on the Parks and Recreation Board under Jack Evans.
He defeated City Councilman and former Mayor Wes Wise in an election where he outspent the other candidate 10 to 1. In his 1985 re-election campaign, he defeated Max Goldblatt. Starke Taylor, Junior., Chief Executive Officer, Taylor Investments was on the 2012 American Telephone & Telegraph Company College Bowl Board.
He was also president of the Cotton Council International.
Taylor died at his home in Dallas on October 27, 2014.