In memory, in gratitude, and for posterity
The family of John Taylor 66Ox 68C 71L established a scholarship in his honor to be awarded to students who are also members of the US Armed Forces.
In law school, Taylor was a journal member and on the Moot Court team that won second place in the national competition in New York City.
In 1969, John married Susan, his adoring and supportive wife, at Glenn Memorial UMC. After law school, he worked for Sanders, Hester, Holley, Ashemore & Boozer for one year before beginning basic training in the United States Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia, where he was the President of the Mess. He received military legal training at the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was posted to Cherry Point Naval Air Station, North Carolina, where he defended or prosecuted cases as a captain in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps). After an honorable three-year tour of duty, in 1975 the family returned to Atlanta. John joined the law firm Troutman, Sanders, Ashemore & Boozer.
When practicing, John was a brilliant litigator, representing multi-national and domestic entrepreneurs through Fortune 500 companies in state and federal trial and appellate courts all over the United States. John made a name for himself navigating the regulation of liquor sales and distribution in the Southeast, eventually arguing tax law and alcohol regulations before the United States Supreme Court. He was often on the list of Super Lawyers of Atlanta and a member of the Lawyer’s Club.
In recognition of John’s life and service, the scholarship has been established to benefit marines or students with military backgrounds. Contributions may be made to the John L. Taylor, Jr. Memorial Scholarship at Emory University School of Law, Office of Gift Records, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Road, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, 404-712-4483 or online at engage.emory.edu/Taylor.
Peter A. Law 93L, Emory Law Advisory Board member and senior principal of Law & Moran, along with his wife Agnes, donated $250,000 to name the student commons adjacent to Bacardi Plaza. The dedication ceremony for the Pete and Agnes Law Student Commons will be held later this fall.
James Brian Watts 80L and his wife Sondra Kay Morison have named Emory Law in their estate and designated $500,000 toward an endowed scholarship - the Dr. Brian Watts and Sondra Kay Morison Endowed Scholarship. Once the scholarship is funded, it will be used to support incoming students with demonstrated financial need and a greater than 3.0 GPA.
