The Phoenix index., 1941-08-30
Euclid Taylor,
Youngest Prexy,
Named In Ark.
-Precedents Are
Broken Through
Varied Career

CHICAGO CAMP The Nation
al Bar association elected to office
at Little Rock, the youngest presi-
dent in its long history when Atty.
Sidney r. Redmond, st. Louis city
prosecutor and retiring president,
handed the gavel to Atty. Euclid
Louis Taylor of Chicago. The new
president in considered one of the
most successful lawyers in the
country.
Born in Coffeyville, Kans., 35
years ago, his father, died when
Euclid was one year old and his
Choetaw Indian mother had to exc
out living for him and his sis
ter
In Lavenworth, KanS., the mother
worked in a laundry and later did
sewing for the townspeople. Young
Taylor helped his mother at this
work and at the age of nine was
sewing gingham dresses. From this
work he proceeded to be a CO.
bread winner with his mother and
secured employment on an ice
wagon or Saturdays and Sundays
His work as youngster took in
such tasks as drug store porter,
bootblack. washer and fuse
lighter at a rock-quarry.
STUDIED MILITARY
TACTICS
His mother married Sgt. Angus
tus Brown of the 10th cavalry and
young Taylor became interested in
military tactics. He was the first
Negro hoy to receive an ROTC
commission in Leavenworth and
spent his vacations in camp with
the soldiers during their manuvers.
He rode horseback during these
manuvers from Fort Riley 70 Fort
Leavenworth, a distance Of 17o
survived his boyhood for he intro
duced the sport of horseback rid
ing to the elite of Chicago's South
side when he built the KelleyS
Riding stables. He is an able
equestrian, and owns high
faited riding horse named Bud.
In 1924 Taylor left Kansas to
make his home in Chicago. His
first job was as bus boy at the
Hotel Sherman. He worked there
until he was appointed mail
clerk in the Chicago post office.
He attended Kent College of Law
and Chicago Law school after
working from IL T. M. to 7:30 A
M.
He became interested in politics
and was a co-worker and persona!
friend of Octavius Granadv who
was murdered by political assassins
when he was a candidate for the
office of the ward committeeman.
Euclid Louis Taylor was riding in
the automobile with him at the
time of his death and was shot five
times.
In the face of coercion and in
timidatior Taylor, as witness in
the murder case, stood up so stern
ly that Silas N. StraWn, eX-presi-
dent of the United States Chamber
of Commerce and former president
of the American Bar Association,
became personally interested n
him and aided him in finishing his
education. Through the years
Taylor and Strawn, who is head
of the middle vests largest law
firm-Winston Strawn and Shaw,
have been personal friends.
TO STATE POST
Upon his graduation from law
school Taylor w2e appointed as
siStant states attorney and served
with distinction as head OF trc
habeas corpus and eXtradition de-
partment from 1929 to 1888 Dur
ing his tenure of office he handled
many famous cases among which
were the eXtradition of Samuel and
Martin insult from Greece and
Ernest Levy from Germany. Atty.
Taylor was the first colored as
sistant states attorney to prosecute
criminal cases in tie new Criminal
Court Building
Not satisfied with his LIB. de-
gree Taylor resumed his legal edu-
cation and won his master of laws
and his doctor of civil laws degrees.