University News

37 Years, $100,000 & Four Scholarships: The Taylor Legacy

April 7, 2010

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MACOMB, IL – Most WIU community members will recognize the name Gordon "Gordy" Taylor; he directed Western's award-winning alumni program for 28 years before retiring in 2006 with more than 37 years of service to the University (Taylor also earned his bachelor's degree from WIU in 1968). Gordy's wife, Diane (Paulsen) Taylor – who earned both her bachelor's (1989) and her master's degrees (1991) -- is retired from Spoon River College (SRC) in Macomb, where she taught English for many years. The Taylors, who have been married for 41 years, met on a blind date at Lake Argyle in 1967.



Most people associated with both WIU and SRC know of the Taylors' strong belief in the power of education. What they may not know, however, is that Gordy and Diane have quietly created, funded and planned for a total of four scholarships to benefit Western Illinois University students, including transfer students from Spoon River College.

Gordy and his three brothers established the Dr. Gordon A. and Constance Taylor Scholarship to honor their parents. All four siblings, who graduated from Hinsdale Central High School (Hinsdale, IL), are WIU graduates: David (1964), Gordon (Gordy), Douglas (1973) and Gregory (1982). The family scholarship is awarded to an entering WIU freshman from Hinsdale Central High School with a declared major in business.

The Harry and Anna Paulsen Scholarship is named in honor of Diane's parents. Anna always wanted to be a teacher, but the conditions of the Great Depression prohibited her from fulfilling her dream. She and Harry, a WWII veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart, encouraged their four children to pursue higher education after graduation from Zion-Benton Township High School (ZBTHS). Three of their four children went on to receive degrees from WIU: Ruth (Paulsen) Drew (1979), Paul Paulsen (1975) and Diane, as did two of their grandchildren: Jennifer (Taylor) Stevenson (1995) and Neil Paulsen (2002).

Anna Paulsen worked 22 years as a bookkeeper at ZBTHS, her son Paul retired as the math department chair, and daughter-in-law Marsha is a guidance counselor. Because of these close ties, and Anna's unfulfilled dream of becoming a teacher, the scholarship is given to a ZBTHS graduate entering WIU to study teacher education. This scholarship is supported by Harry and Anna, Ruth and Steve Drew, Paul and Marsha Paulsen and Diane and Gordy.

When Gordy retired, Diane initiated The Gordon and Diane Taylor Scholarship, with financial support from WIU alumni and friends, as a way to honor his years of service to WIU. The Taylors have structured their scholarship to benefit a new transfer student from SRC, with a preference for declared English majors.

"We really appreciate all the support we received from family, friends and colleagues to honor Gordy with this scholarship," said Diane.

The Gordon and Diane Taylor Alumni Scholarship will be awarded as part of Gordy and Diane's estate.
The Taylors claim to have "purple and gold running through their veins," and Gordy's relationship with alumni has been a highlight of his life. When making provisions for this scholarship, the Taylors decided they would like it to go to a legacy student, or the child of an alumnus, with proven participation and leadership activities.

"The first scholarship was started on a whim, then it took off and impressed us with the good it could do," Gordy said.

"We both believe that education strengthens individuals, and we embrace the idea of helping students achieve their educational objectives, so we went on to establish scholarships in honor of our parents, who encouraged us to pursue higher education," Diane added.

"Western has been very good to us," said Gordy. "Diane and I met, married and raised our family here. Many of our family members also graduated from Western and have gone on to rewarding lives. These scholarships are our living legacy; they will continue long after we are gone and pay tribute to our family by helping students at the institution that gave so much to us."



Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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