The Order is saddened to report that Jack Richesin Taylor passed away on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He served as the 31st Knight Commander from 1981 until 1985.
Knight Commander C. Douglas Simmons III has declared an official period of mourning for thirty (30) days beginning on July 1, 2021. During this time, members should wear a hatchment (black ribbon, inches ½ wide and ¾ inches long) behind their official badge and the Order’s flag shall be flown at half-staff at the National Administrative Office.
You may make a contribution to the KAOEF in Former Knight Commander Taylor’s memory.
Jack Richesin Taylor (May 8, 1931–June 30, 2021)
Taylor was born in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 8, 1931. His family moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he graduated from Springfield High School in 1949. He first attended Drury College and was initiated by the Beta Iota Chapter in 1950. Later that year, he transferred to the University of Missouri and became active in the Alpha Kappa Chapter. He served that chapter as Number I in 1951 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in September 1953.
He was formerly the President and Chairman of the Board of Mattingly Stores Inc., which had been founded by Taylor’s father-in-law, Harry Mattingly. The Lexington, Missouri–based company operated discount retail stores throughout Missouri and Iowa. Taylor was also an investor and corporate “turnaround” management specialist for the retail industry and wrote numerous articles on personnel management and compensation. He served as both CEO and COO and as a consultant to management of midsize, multistore, general merchandise, and specialty retailers. His principal hobby was flying, and he held a commercial pilot’s license.
Taylor served as the Chiles Province Commander from 1975 to 1976, when he was elected by the Advisory Council to fill a vacancy on the Executive Council. In 1979, he was selected Senior Councilor, and in 1981, he was elected the 31st Knight Commander. Taylor was involved in the creation of the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation (KAOEF) in 1981, led by his chapter brother and friend, Former Knight Commander Loren Q. Hanson (Alpha Kappa– Missouri ’50). He subsequently served as Chairman and President of the KAOEF and was named a Life Trustee/Trustee Emeritus in 2000.
Former Knight Commander Taylor is survived by his wife Ann of nearly 68 years, his daughter Sherryl Taylor Jandrell (Steve) and his son Keith Taylor (Donna) as well as four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with one on the way.
