Reese H. Taylor Jr.

Reese Hale Taylor Jr. was born May 6, 1928, in Pasadena, California. He graduated from The Webb School of California in 1945 and went on to Stanford University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction. He attended law school at Cornell University in New York and, upon his graduation in 1952, became a member of the Order of the Coif.

Over a distinguished career as an attorney and public servant, Reese specialized in the areas of labor, public utilities, and transportation, working to promote fair and equitable policies. He began his legal career in Los Angeles with the firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Upon his move to Nevada, he practiced with Wiener, Goldwater and Galatz of Las Vegas, chaired the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in Carson City, and later served as a partner in the law firm of Laxalt, Berry and Allison of Carson City.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Reese Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, where he served until 1985. He later returned to California, practicing with the law firm of Keesal, Young and Logan of Long Beach until his retirement. Active in public life, he served as 1976 Nevada Chairman of Citizens for Reagan, as a Nevada Delegate to the Republican National Convention, as 1980 Nevada Chairman of the Reagan for President Committee, and as the 1980/1981 Republican National Committeeman for Nevada. He was remembered as an amateur historian and Civil War enthusiast, a gifted conversationalist, and a warm and remarkably intelligent man with a passion for life.