Industry veteran Kenneth David Taylor died Jan. 7 in Oklahoma City. He was 89.
Taylor spent his entire career in the home decor industry. He and his former wife, Mary Murray Taylor, founded Taylors in the Dallas Market Center in 1979. The sales agency represented many decor companies in six states and still does, under the ownership of Jane Murray.
Taylor was inducted into ARTS Awards Academy of Achievement in 1999 in recognition of his contributions to the industry. Over his career, he mentored many sales professionals, including son-in-law Tim Bergman, who is also an ARTS Award winner.
He loved to contribute to the success of the companies the Taylors represented. His favorite saying in sales was “Make money with them, not off of them.”
Taylor grew up in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and discovered his love of tennis there. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Business in 1955. His OU men’s tennis team won the NCAA Big Seven team title in 1951, 1952 and 1955, and Taylor won three singles titles and four doubles titles for OU in the Big Seven Conference. He made Dallas his home for 40 years.
Taylor is survived by his four children, Kenna Bergman of Kansas City, Kansas; Jeff Taylor of Oklahoma City; Kate Ladwig of Hennessey, Oklahoma; and Nick Taylor of Dallas; and six grandchildren.
