James "Jim" Hobert Taylor

Dr. James H. (Jim) Taylor was born January 28, 1929, in Tishomingo County, MS and passed away on January 27, 2025. Memorial service will be on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 2 PM at Parkway Baptist Church, Auburn, AL. A private burial will be held earlier. Visitation is at 1 P M, one hour preceding the memorial service.

Dr. Jim was a charter member of Parkway Baptist Church where he served as deacon and SS teacher. He was a veteran (US Navy Air) of the Korean conflict. He was president of the Auburn lions Club 1972-73. He graduated from Belmont, Mississippi High School in 1946 and received a BS in Agricultural Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1951, worked eight years for International Harvester Co. in Memphis, TN before moving his family to Auburn in 1959 for graduate study, receiving the first PhD in what is now The Bio-Systems Engineering Department in 1964.

In 1978 in celebration of Mississippi State University's 100 years, Dr. Taylor was selected as one of thirty engineers of the century in the College of Engineering.

Dr. Taylor spent 30 years as a research engineer with the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics lab and adjunct professor on the AU Graduate School faculty, where he directed research for Masters and PhD candidates. His basic traction research culminated in leadership of national and international programs as National Technical Advisor for Traction and Controlled Traffic.

He was a registered Professional Engineer (PE) and a member of several professional societies. He worked with engineers and scientists in many countries. Initially he used PL-480 funds to strengthen institutions and faculty in India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Poland. In later years he developed cooperative research in Israel, Japan, Australia, UK, plus Germany and the Netherlands. He presented research papers before varied audiences and was published in a variety of scientific journals.

Dr. Taylor was preceded in death by his son, Dr. James R. (Jim) Taylor.

He is survived by his wife of 73 1/2 years, Virginia Taylor; one daughter, Jennifer (Jim) Carson of Birmingham; three grandchildren, Hayley (Jimbo) Tucker, Jim (Courtney) Carson IV, and Kayleigh Taylor; and five great-grandchildren: Carson, Caleb, Judah, and Mae Tucker and Ellis Carson; a brother Bob (Margaret) Taylor and nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Parkway Baptist Church or designate to The Virginia Rutledge Taylor Endowed Scholarship Fund at Parkway Baptist Church.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directing.