Patrick F. Taylor, a prominent Louisiana philanthropist, allowed thousands of students in the state to achieve higher education through his creation of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).
LSU honored Taylor’s contributions by renaming the former Center for Engineering and Business Administration (CEBA) to Patrick F. Taylor Hall (PFT) in 2007. The building’s rebrand honored Taylor’s dedication to creating educational opportunities for high-achieving and underprivileged students.
Commended for its innovative laboratories and modern architecture, Patrick F. Taylor Hall provides state-of-the-art facilities that encourage collaboration, research and hands-on learning. The PFT building reflects the values of its namesake, Patrick F. Taylor. Taylor, who devoted his life to the betterment of children, particularly through financial support in higher education.
One of the original TOPS recipients and a project manager with Entergy, Spencer Davis, recalls Taylor’s distinctive outfits. Others who knew Taylor described his fashion sense as a wealthy cartoon cowboy that came to life.
His fashion sense wasn’t the only extravagant aspect of Taylor’s life. He rode bulls, jumped out of over 500 planes and had a large collection of leopard and lion trophies from African safaris. As the owner of Taylor Energy, the only privately owned oil company in the Gulf of Mexico without investors, and one of Forbes’ top 400 richest people in 2003, Taylor lived a large and lavish lifestyle.
The first 183 students he sponsored saw Taylor as a role model who, like them, came from humble beginnings but achieved incredible success. During a motivational speech at a local school, Taylor pledged to pay for students’ college tuition if they maintained a B average: the promise that ultimately became the TOPS scholarship.
“The Taylor Plan is not a handout,” Taylor said in his speech. “It’s a reward for hard work.”
Taylor often made large donations the public never knew about, showing that he wasn’t in it for the good press, but to see the kids succeed. Once, he purchased all of the band uniforms for St. Augustine High School.
“He did it because that band is the best, and he knows how hard they work,” James Caillier, executive director of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation said.
The scholarship has benefitted more than 200,000 students and his nationwide lobbying has led 12 other states to implement similar merit-based tuition grants. Anthony Reynolds, an LSU freshman and mechanical engineer major became one of the TOPS recipients this year.
“The TOPS scholarship has made my decision to attend college a no-brainer,” Reynolds said. “I am able to study and get my degree without sacrificing financial stability.”
Taylor’s legacy is not without controversy, and he often faced criticism for his oil business practices. Two months before his death, Hurricane Ivan toppled a Taylor Energy oil platform, which became known as the Taylor Energy Spill, making it the longest-running oil spill in U.S. history. The Taylor Foundation has since expanded its focus to include environmental initiatives, alongside its commitment to education since this event.
His wife, Phyllis Miller Taylor, took on the responsibility of continuing his legacy. She now oversees Taylor Energy and sustains its philanthropic support for students aspiring to higher education. Taylor’s legacy as an eccentric philanthropist who opened doors for thousands of Louisiana scholars remains impactful and worth celebrating.