[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 141 (Tuesday, November 18, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. JIM TAYLOR

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Jim 
Taylor as he ends his 35-year stint as president of the University of 
the Cumberlands. Dr. Taylor is an educator of the highest degree and 
deserves the praise of this body for his unremitting devotion to his 
students and his community.
  When Dr. Taylor retired last month, he ended the longest tenure as 
president of any college or university in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 
He led the university for so long, however, because he continued to get 
results from his students and contribute positively to his community--
year after year.
  Over the course of his tenure, enrollment in the school rose from 
1,885 to over 5,500, the endowment rose from $6 million to $79 million, 
and numerous campus renovations were made including the construction of 
hundreds of handicap access ramps.
  Dr. Taylor's impact did not stop at the boundaries of campus, 
however. He worked tirelessly to better his community--raising money 
for scholarships for Appalachian students and overseeing clothing and 
food drives for area families.
  For now, Dr. Taylor and his wife of 46 years, Dinah Louise Taylor, 
will move to their home in Florida. However, Dr. Taylor could not 
separate himself from the institution for which he had worked for so 
long in one fell swoop. He will remain involved with the university in 
his new position of chancellor, where he will help with fundraising and 
provide counsel to his successor in order to provide for a smooth 
transition.
  Dr. Jim Taylor's life of service to his students and his community 
provide a shining example of excellence for us all. Therefore, I ask 
that my U.S. Senate colleagues join me in honoring this exemplary 
citizen.
  The Times-Tribune of Whitley County, KY, recently published an 
article detailing the life and career of Dr. Jim Taylor. I ask 
unanimous consent that the full article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record as follows:

                 [From the Times-Tribune, Oct. 8, 2014]

The Ending of an Era: University of the Cumberlands President To Retire

                          (By Kristina Smith)

       Boxes filled the large rectangular room where Dr. James 
     Harold Taylor usually sat and carried out his day-to-day 
     business as president of the University of the Cumberlands.
       Each box was marked with bold, white letters--``mover.''
       Until Oct. 16, that's exactly what Taylor will be doing--
     moving.
       Taylor's 35 years as president comes to an end next week as 
     he officially retires and Dr. Larry Cockrum takes over the 
     top position. His retirement also means the end of the 
     longest tenure of a Kentucky college or university president.
       So for now, Taylor prepares to move to his Florida 
     residence with his wife of 46 years, Dinah Louise Taylor.
       ``I'm telling everybody goodbye and expressing my 
     appreciation,'' Taylor said of his last week as president. 
     ``This job is too big for one working alone. It takes a team, 
     and we have a great one here. We have great faculty, staff 
     and students.''
       Taylor and his team have molded the university into the 
     largest private college or university in the state of 
     Kentucky during his time as president.
       ``We're also the only Baptist university in the state,'' 
     Taylor quickly pointed out. ``Well, except for Clear Creek 
     Bible School.''
       Taylor is proud of the university and the over 5,000 
     students he is leaving behind. He mentions that he is 
     especially happy with the developing physician's assistant 
     program, nursing program and health programs.
       However, he is most proud of the impact within the 
     community that he leaves behind.
       ``What I'm pleased about is that we've been able to build 
     145 homes for people. Distributed tons of food and clothing. 
     We've built hundreds of handicap access ramps, done 
     insulation projects, roofing. We have a toy program for kids 
     at Christmas who normally wouldn't get toys. Then we have 
     Thanksgiving, where we do vouchers for people,'' Taylor said.
       The list goes on and on.
       ``I've had a lot of fun,'' Taylor said with a grin.
       But Taylor isn't boasting on his accomplishments. Once 
     again, he points to the team of people surrounding him.
       ``When I'm talking about this, I'm just talking about how I 
     hire smart people who are really good,'' Taylor said. ``And I 
     just get out of their way and let them work.''
       Running a university that spans over 100 acres is a lot of 
     work, and Taylor acknowledges that his predecessor will have 
     no easy task before him.
       ``This school is so much bigger than people think,'' Taylor 
     said. ``See, our operating budget is $50 million a year. The 
     fiscal plan here is around $200 million. You have to maintain 
     all of it. So we raise probably around $300 million, and 
     spend around $305 million. It takes a lot to keep it going.''
       So Taylor will provide some help to Cockrum going forward. 
     He hopes to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
       For about a week of every month, Taylor will assist in 
     raising money and identifying friends for the college as 
     chancellor.
       ``No one does anything alone. It takes many heads, hearts 
     and hands,'' Taylor said. ``Dr. Cockrum will take us to 
     stellar heights and allow us to do things we've never done 
     before.''
       Taylor believes that choosing Cockrum to follow in his 
     steps will help the university continue to flourish after 
     he's left campus and moved to the Sunshine State. He notes 
     that Cockrum has been with the university for nearly a 
     decade, and has seen firsthand the work Cockrum is capable 
     of.
       ``You know, this profession is filled with talkers. But, he 
     delivers. He's about the best I've seen,'' Taylor said of 
     Cockrum. ``I feel like all we've done is built the foundation 
     and he's going to let this rocket ship fly.''
       While Cockrum is preparing to blast off into his new 
     presidential role, Taylor will take the time to ponder upon 
     his years with the university.
       ``It's time for relaxation and reflection,'' Taylor said. 
     ``I'm grateful for my wife who has allowed me to do what 
     needed to be done in terms of promoting the institution. It's 
     fulfilled this opportunity to serve. It's been a blessing. 
     It's fulfilled our lifelong dreams. Few people get to live 
     out their dreams--I was fortunate to be able to do that.''
       Taylor has already thought of a few words of advice to the 
     university he leaves behind, though.
       ``You have to have a moral compass, a true north. I think 
     the Christian faith can give you that,'' Taylor said. ``Oh, 
     and always measure twice, but cut once.''
       So Taylor will finish packing papers, photos and his 
     personal belongings into the cardboard boxes that are piled 
     in his office. But he will be back to visit; he's not ready 
     to leave Williamsburg completely behind.
       ``I'll come back some because our son is buried here, and 
     we'll have a home here,'' Taylor said. ``But we'll come in 
     for the holidays and things like that. We'll come in for some 
     ball games.''
       As a final note, Taylor quotes a line of Shakespeare to sum 
     up his time with the university and his pending retirement.
       ``The crown rests heavy on the head of the king,'' Taylor 
     said.

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