Anson W.H.
Taylor, Jr.
Radnor Hunt, Thanksgiving 2005
Anson W.H. Taylor Jr. died of a
stroke on the last day of March, a beautiful day for a ride in
Willistown Township. A former secretary of the Bryn Mawr Hound
Show, who served in this capacity from 1968 to 1981, Mr. Taylor was
loved for his good humor and known for his wise
counsel. Although he was a lawyer by training, he was an
equestrian at heart. In this regard, The Chronicle of the Horse
praised his “extraordinary combination of common sense and vision”.
Mr. Taylor graduated From the Pomfret School, Princeton University, and
the University of Virginia Law School. After serving in the US
Army Jag Corps he worked as an attorney for Morgan Lewis and the
Philadelphia National Bank. He then acted as general counsel for
IU International and became a partner at Pepper Hamilton. All the
while he was a supervisor of Eastown Township and sat on the board of
Historic Waynesborough.
In addition to providing legal counsel to the US Pony Club, he also
served as its president. When the land for the Radnor Hunt Pony
Club became threatened, he purchased it and created a consortium to
ease the property to become the pony club’s permanent home. He
also was past president of the Landmarks Society and a co-founder of
the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource, a national organization
dedicated to maintaining open space.
Mr. Taylor’s last ride preceded the final hunting day in Radnor Hunt
country. He was an avid foxhunter and former President of the
Radnor Hunt. Mr. Taylor was also a board member from its
inception of the Willistown Conservation Trust. When he was honored
this past fall for his role in the ELCR, Mr. Taylor was given a
calligraphy scroll praising his character and leadership. This was
accompanied by a sketch picturing him as a knight on horseback saving
the countryside.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn, daughter Laura Gorham, sons Anson
III (Lance) and Stuart, daughters-in-law Debi and Jane, and
granddaughters Taylor and Adare.
