Casper Taylor Jr., a prominent and long-serving Maryland politician who was once speaker of the state’s House of Delegates, died on Monday aged 88.
Taylor died in his sleep on Monday morning. He was a Democrat from Cumberland in western Maryland who represented a district located in Allegany County.
He served as a member of the House of Delegates for nearly three decades, from 1975 until 2003, and held the position of speaker from 1994 to 2003.
His death was announced by current House Speaker Adrienne Jones during a bill-signing ceremony at the State House.
“He was a friend and a mentor,” said Jones, who joined the House in 1997 when Taylor was the speaker. “It was an honor to serve with him for six years in the General Assembly.”
Jones noted Taylor’s championing of “One Maryland,” an initiative aimed at ensuring each resident had opportunities and resources to “find success” regardless of their zip code.
“This work and his legacy will continue on in the General Assembly,” Jones said. “He will be sorely missed.”
Gov. Wes Moore praised Taylor in a statement for his contributions to the state’s Legislature, which is made up of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Delegates.
“Speaker Taylor served Maryland with distinction for nearly three decades, as a member of the House of Delegates and one of the longest serving Speakers of the House in the history of our state,” Moore said in the statement.
“We are so grateful for his years of public service, and celebrate his many accomplishments which Marylanders benefit greatly from every day. Our family’s thoughts are with his loved ones, friends, and former colleagues.”
Taylor served in the state Assembly for nearly three decades and was one of the longest-serving speakers of the House in Maryland’s history.
The governor recognized Taylor’s many accomplishments, which he said continue to benefit Marylanders to this day.
Taylor was born in Frostburg in 1934 to Casper R. Taylor Sr. and Zelma (McDermott) Taylor. He graduated from LaSalle High School in Cumberland in 1952 and went on to attend the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1956.
Taylor served in the U.S. Air Force ROTC and later became a businessman, owning the popular restaurant Cas Taylor’s on North Mechanic Street for several years.
Taylor’s political career began in 1975 when he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates to represent District 2A. He later went on to represent seat 1C.
