Casper R. Taylor, Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Casper R. Taylor, Jr served as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994-2003, the longest recorded Speaker's tenure in Maryland history. He was first elected to the House in 1974 and served until 2003, after losing his seat in the 2002 election. Taylor's loss is generally attributed to redrawn legislative district lines and his support for some gun control laws, which were unpopular in his rural district (Allegany County (district 1c)). ^[1] Taylor started out as a restaurant owner after graduating from the University of Notre Dame, and is generally credited later on with helping to bring millions of dollars of state and private investments to the aid of his struggling district in Cumberland, including the state-backed Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort. ^[2]. In the State House, Taylor authored legislation including the "One Maryland" laws, aimed at providing tax havens and other incentives for businesses to invest in depressed parts of the state.^[3]

He has received numerous awards, including the Legislator Recognition Award from the Maryland Association of Counties in 1994 and 2001. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of Notre Dame in 2001, Frostburg State University in 2000, and Villa Julie College in 1995. He received the First Citizen Award from the Maryland Senate in 2003 and the Thomas Kennedy Award from the Maryland House of Delegates in 2004.

In January 2007, the new House of Delegates office building in Annapolis was named after Taylor.^[4] He is now a lobbyist and government relations consultant for the Alexander and Cleaver firm in Annapolis, MD.^[5]