Herbert Taylor was born in Houston, Texas on November 29, 1924. His parents were Herb Cecil and Pearl T. Taylor. He was married to Rubby Emma Onken on October 7, 1948, with whom he had three children; Laura, Helen and Herbert Cecil III. He later divorced Rubby and married Carol Jean Diers on August 17, 1973.
Herbert started college at the University of Mexico in 1942 and then transferred to North Mexico A & M. He later switched to the University of Texas where he received his Bachelors Degree in 1949 for Anthropology. Taylor became a Teaching Assistant in Anthropology at the University of Chicago where he later received his Ph.D. He became a member of the faculty of Western Washington University, Bellingham in 1951 where he later worked as a Professor of Anthropology from 1962-1987.
Some of his many accomplishments while teaching included: Chairman of Faculty Council 1959 and 1960, Department of Sociology and Anthropology Chairman 1960-1965, Dean of Research and Grants 1965 -1975, Visiting Assistant Professor at U.B.C. 1954 and also at the University of Calgary in 1963 and 1973, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Pacific Northwest Conference of Higher Education Council, Twice Chairman of the Northwest Science Association and Anthropology Consultant for Indian claims cases.
Dr. Taylor also wrote a book about the North West Coastal Indians and was co-author of the Intermittent Fever Epidemic of the 1830's on the Lower Columbia River. Herbert Taylor was a member of the United States Army for 1943 - 1946. He then became a member of the United States Air Force, where he received a Decorated Commendation Medal. He was Director of Personal of the Washington National Guards from 1973 - 1976 and received the Best Teacher award at Western State Washington University in 1957. Dr. Taylor was a member of the American Ethnologist Canadian Studies Association, Retired Officers Association and the Sigma Xi at different times through out his life.
American Men & Women of Science - 12th Edition of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Volume 2, By Cartwell and Bowker
Who's Who In America - 45th Edition - Volume 1988-1989
Written by Mark Sanow
Edited by Marcy L. Voelker, 2007