About Casper R. Taylor Jr.
Casper R. Taylor Jr. (December 19, 1934 – April 24, 2023) was an American politician who served as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994 to 2003, amongst the longest Speaker's tenures in Maryland history. He also represented Districts 1C and 2A in the House of Delegates from 1975 to 2003. == Education == Taylor graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1956, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC. He started out his career as a restaurant owner, and was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1974. == Career == Taylor is credited 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. In the State House, Taylor authored many pieces of legislation over the course of his tenure, including the "One Maryland" bill, aimed at providing tax havens and other incentives for businesses to invest in depressed parts of the state. Taylor was first elected to the House of Delegates for the 1975 legislative session to represent District 2A. In the 1994 election, he successfully ran as delegate for the newly created District 1C. Taylor served until 2003 after losing his seat in the 2002 election. His loss is generally attributed to redrawn legislative district lines that added four heavily Republican precincts in Washington County to his traditionally Democratic district based around Cumberland, and his support for some gun control laws, which were unpopular in the rural parts of his district. Taylor 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.
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