J. Paul Taylor (politician)

{{Short description|American politician (1920–2023)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = J. Paul Taylor

| image =

| image_size = 160px

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| state_house = New Mexico

| district = 33rd

| term_start = 1987

| term_end = 2005

| predecessor =

| successor = Joni Gutierrez

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| party = Democratic

| birth_name = John Paul Taylor

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|8|24}}

| birth_place = Chamberino, New Mexico, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|2|12|1920|8|24}}

| death_place = Mesilla, New Mexico, U.S.

| profession = Teacher, rancher

| residence =

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| spouse = {{marriage|Mary Helen Daniels|1945|2007|end=d.}}{{Cite web|url=https://getzfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/2940535/taylor-mary/obituary.php|title=Mary Taylor - Wednesday, January 10, 2007|website=getzfuneralhome.com|accessdate=4 April 2023}}

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}}

John Paul Taylor (August 24, 1920 – February 12, 2023) was an American politician who was a Democratic member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1987 to 2005.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-12 |title=Las Cruces political icon J. Paul Taylor dies at age 102 |url=https://www.ktsm.com/news/las-cruces-political-icon-j-paul-taylor-dies-at-age-102/ |first=Dave |last=Burge |website=KTSM 9 News |language=en-US}} Taylor attended New Mexico State University and was a teacher and academic administrator in Las Cruces, New Mexico. During his time in the House, he was known as "the conscience of the legislature" and chaired the House Health and Human Services Committee.{{cite web |url=http://www.nmmagazine.com/article/?aid=80463#.VEbsOot4pk8 |title=The Grand Old Man of Mesilla - New Mexico Magazine |website=www.nmmagazine.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905095647/http://www.nmmagazine.com/article/?aid=80463 |archive-date=2015-09-05}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ftfm-mesilla-nm.org/jpaultaylor.html |title=J. Paul Taylor and family |access-date=2014-10-21 |archive-date=2020-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202112952/http://www.ftfm-mesilla-nm.org/jpaultaylor.html |url-status=dead }} He turned 100 in August 2020,{{Cite web|url=http://lascruces.staging.communityq.com/stories/j-paul-taylor-celebrates-100th-birthday-with-online-party,4582|title=J. Paul Taylor celebrates 100th birthday with online party|first1=Leslie|last1=Bergloff |date=2020-08-20 |website=Las Cruces Bulletin}} and died from a heart attack at his home in Mesilla, New Mexico, on February 12, 2023, at the age of 102.{{cite web |last1=Boetel |first1=Ryan |title=Former New Mexico lawmaker J. Paul Taylor – 'conscience of the legislature' — dies at 102 |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2572695/j-paul-taylor-conscience-of-new-mexico-legislature-dies-at-102.html |website=Albuquerque Journal |date=February 12, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2023}}