Former Dallas mayor Austin Starke Taylor Jr. died Monday at his home. He was 92.
The cotton merchant-turned-North Dallas land investor was elected in his first political venture in 1983, running the most expensive mayoral race in Dallas history at the time to defeat Max Goldblatt (though the council member nearly forced a runoff).
“The surprise was that the race was close at all,” The New York Times wrote at the time. “Mayor Taylor, a retired cotton broker, is the latest in an almost unbroken line of successful businessmen with little political experience to have been elected mayor with the backing of the business leadership.”
He served two terms but chose not to seek a third, leaving office in 1987. He was succeeded by Annette Strauss.
Taylor was considered a mayor of conscience and conviction by both his supporters and detractors. He argued openly at council meetings with minority and neighborhood leaders, but also appointed Dallas’ first black city manager, Richard Knight.
He also appointed 20 citizen task forces to tackle problems from crime to economic development.
“Taylor’s goals and accomplishments during his two terms in office surprised and silenced some of his strongest critics,” The News wrote in an editorial as he left office. “He set forth on a course that addressed many of the serious urban problems that now grip Dallas. And in doing so, Taylor involved talented people from all economic levels and walks of life in the battle to make this city better.”
Taylor was criticized for his North Dallas investments, yet often worked for policies to assist all of Dallas. He worked for better public housing, development in southern Dallas, and lead contamination cleanup in east Oak Cliff and West Dallas. He also received the final approval to widen North Central Expressway.