An Interview with Howard Taylor

Teddy bear with a Growl

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Howard Taylor does business by the 'Golden Rule'

Then he served for "three years, 10 months and 28 days" in the Navy during the Korean War, serving as a boilermaker all over the South Pacific.

Upon leaving the service, Taylor returned to Klamath Falls and began working construction.

"I got hurt, and I realized I had to get an education," he said. He enrolled at Portland State College and got his bachelor's degree in business.

In 1957, he met Donna, the woman who would soon become his wife, and created the duo that longtime friend Don Brooks called "a pair made in heaven." She was working for Mobil Oil, and they married on Dec. 20, 1958.

It wasn't long before the family grew... and grew... and grew. By the time their oldest child, Brent was 3 1/2 years old, he and his 2 1/2 year old sister Jana were joined by twin sisters Dana and Dian.

On New Year's Day in 1968, Taylor and his young family moved to Redding after working for the Buick Motor Division of General Motors in Portland, OR, for about eight years. He got his start here by buying one quarter of Bassett Motors on California Street, which sold Opel and Buick vehicles.

Two years later, he acquired a Pontiac Franchise, and in 1971 he acquired the GMC franchise, he said. Then in 1976 he bought the property on the corner of East Cypress Avenue and Churn Creek Road where Taylor Motors now resides: the business moved over there in November 1977. "I knew the economy and the growth of the town was going east," Taylor said. As he grew his business, he also delved into community service.

Birthdate: Oct 8, 1932
Age: 71
Family: Wife, Donna; children, Brent, Jana, Dana and Dian; seven grandchildren
Occupation: Owner of Taylor Motors
Philosophy: "Live by the Golden Rule."
Goal: "I've exceeded any of my goals that I've ever anticipated. It's all bonus now."

In addition to his membership in the Masonic Lodge and the Nor Cal Ben Ali Shrine, Taylor has been a member of Redding East Rotary since 1970 (the year it was founded), and was instrumental in founding two scholarship funds for the philanthropic organization. The Fred Haynes Scholarship was launched in 1979 in honor of a former Rotarian, and the Jackie Brooks Humanitarian Award was founded in the mid-1980s in honor of the late wife of retired Redding pediatrician Don Brooks. Taylor also served as the Rotary Club's president in 1976-1977.

Taylor enjoys helping add to his Rotary Club's scholarship fund—and partaking in his favorite hobby at the same time. About seven years ago, Taylor took up woodworking after watching "mater wood turner" Clair Carter of Redding create works of art in his shop. The two—both members of the Shasta Wood Workers—get together every week to turn wood into bowls, bottle stoppers and much more; they donate some of their products to the Rotary Club to auction off in fund-raisers.

"He's a good man—one of the most honest men I know," Carter said. "He's the greatest friend I've got."

Brooks also had high accolades for the man who founded a scholarship in his late wife's name.

"He's like a great big teddy bear with a growl," his friend of 35 years said with a chuckle. "He's the original guy who would rip the shirt off his back and hand it to you."

Taylor still puts in 40 to 50 hours per week at the dealership. He enjoys visiting with customers—many have been clients since he opened his doors 36 years ago, while others used to come over to play with his kids. "As long as it's fun, I'll keep doing it," he said.

The loyalty he shows to his work, family and community is reciprocated by the important people in his life. He still has the same service manager that he did when he opened Taylor Motors. His auto dealership is one of the just a handful in the nation that boasts that kind of longevity, he said.

"I promised the good Lord that if given the opportunity to run my own business, I'd run it by the Golden Rule," Taylor said. "My employees can all say with pride that they work for Taylor Motors. We work as a team—there's no 'I' in team."

Among those team members are two of his own children. Brent Taylor and Dian Brown Taylor are general sales managers at Taylor Motors. Daughter Jana of Fresno and Dana of Orange County are moms and homemakers. All four Taylor children graduated from Enterprise High School in Redding, and together they have given Howard and Donna Taylor seven grandchildren.

"To have half your children working with you and the other two in the same state is very nice," Taylor said. "Family is very important. I am very fortunate."

Living in the North State is one of the other highlights of his life, he said

"There are still people here whose values mean something to them—they have pride respect and they want to accept their responsibility," he said.

By Kerri Regan

Special to the Record Searchlight

September 24, 2004