TAYLOR
––––
Nevin Taylor, a member of Marysville Elks Lodge No. 1130, will be installed as President of the Ohio Elks Association on Saturday, April 28. It will be the culmination of an eight-year journey and, as he would say, “not bad for a good ol’ farm boy.”
Taylor has worn many hats during his life. First, he was a farmer. He was one of nine children living on a farm in Hardin County where he learned the value of hard work at an early age. He graduated from Kenton High School and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education from the Ohio State University.
Second, he was a teacher. After college graduation, he started his teaching career at Marysville High School but spent most of his years at Fairbanks High School where he taught Vo-Ag and was FFA Advisor. During his tenure, his love of teaching was evident by the many ways he was active with his students, including serving as an advisor for the Fairbanks High School’s Senior Class, National Honor Society, Mock Trial team and Prom Committee.
He was president of the Ohio Ag Teacher Association and was honored nationally as runner-up for Career and Technical Education’s 2004 Teacher of the Year award. During fair season, he spent more than 20 years as sheep barn superintendent at the Union County Fair and Ag superintendent at the Ohio State Fair. In 2011, he was inducted into the Ohio Agriculture Hall of Fame.
He was known to his students as “Coach” or “T” and was readily available to listen to a problem, help find a solution and just be a friend. He retired from Fairbanks after 31 years of teaching. He taught several generations of families during this career. He supports the youth of today and believes the nation is in good hands for the future.
Taylor donned his third hat in 1982, when he joined the Marysville Elks Lodge. As an Elk, he has held all elected positions, as well as secretary and treasurer. He was Exalted Ruler in 1989 and again in 2006, and was elected to Honorary Life Status on Aug. 6, 2008. He has been the Elks Scholarship Chairman for the past 20 years, including Educational Fund Grants and Most Valuable Student Scholarships, and is heavily involved in all aspects of Elks charities, especially the Ohio Elks State Major Project – Cerebral Palsy.
As a Marysville Elk member for 36 years, he has won many accolades and awards, including Elk of the Year in 1986 and 2005 and Elk Hall of Fame in 1998. He was instrumental in creating the James E. Payne Scholarship Committee that honors the memory of deceased Past State President Jim Payne of the Marysville lodge, who was the only other Marysville Elks Lodge member to serve as state president. Taylor recently received a Grand Exalted Ruler’s watch, which is the highest recruiting award an Elk can achieve, for bringing in 11 new members within one year.
Taylor’s fourth hat came with his marriage to Deana Pfarr, also a teacher, in 1985. That led to hat No. 5, their five “kids” (cats – Leo, Thai, Sammy, Vincent and Allie).
Taylor has enjoyed all types of sports. While at OSU, he played rugby and football, and is an avid golfer. His love of sports brought him hat No. 6, being a coach. During his many years of teaching, he has coached and been an assistant in various sports, including football, volleyball, girls golf team and girls softball team. He officiated football, basketball and baseball games, and retired as a wrestling official in 2006 after 25 years. He received the Central District Wrestling Association’s Official of the Year award in 2005, and was inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2006. He is currently wrapping up his term as Ohio Wrestling Officials Association President.
In 2002, he put on his seventh hat as a member of Marysville Council for Ward 4, a post he has held for the past 16 years. While on council, he has served as vice-president and president, and for a few days, mayor. He enjoys watching the city grow and prosper, takes an active interest in the proceedings and is proud of the part he has played in that development.
In 2013, Taylor became an ordained minister, donning hat No. 8, and has officiated at numerous weddings and funerals throughout the state. He and his wife are members of Trinity Lutheran Church and he assists there in various capacities.
He started his journey through the Ohio Elks Association chairs in 2011, with the support of his wife, holding every position from chaplain to vice-president. His goal to be president will be finalized this month with his installation on the 28th. It will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Dublin at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public. He will follow in the footsteps of Payne, his mentor and friend.
“It has been a long road to get to this point with joys, trials and tribulations,” Taylor said. “While Deana will miss the many friends we have made over the past eight years, when this year comes to an end, she will be content to stay at home and continue her volunteer work in the community.” Whether Taylor will be looking for another challenge (and hat) is yet to be determined.
To learn more about the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, those interested can go to www.elks.org.