* Keith Taylor was laid to rest yesterday after a tough battle with cancer. Keith was former Comptroller Dan Hynes’ chief of staff and a heck of a good guy. Hynes gave the eulogy at Keith’s Springfield funeral and he asked that I run a condensed version here. I was more than happy to oblige…
Thank you for this opportunity to honor my dear friend Keith Taylor. There is something so unfair about the events of these past few months. Unfair that a man who had such boundless energy died so young. That a man who enjoyed life so much had to suffer through his final few months.
I don’t think anyone in this church has met, or will meet, someone as unique and multi-faceted as Keith Taylor. He was an original blend of so many differing traits: a smart, genuine, loving, inquisitive, devoted, loyal, hard-working practical joker. Keith was anything but one-dimensional.
First and foremost, he was an historian and a scholar — but not just of U.S. or world history. He was a scholar of U.S. Presidents, famous wars and battles, professional baseball and football legends and championship teams, Kentucky Derby winners, rock and roll bands, Illinois high school basketball, and of course, Illinois government and politics. There was never a time that Keith wasn’t reading at least three different books, usually on totally divergent, and often totally obscure, topics. Retiring presidents have to form commissions to create their libraries, Keith’s is already built — there must be two or three thousand books at their home on Clearview.
Keith was a public servant. He believed that government was good, and that working for government was an honor. He didn’t get into politics for power or prestige or self-advancement. He did it because he wanted to believe in something. He had no tolerance for demagogues or phonies, and had no desire to spend time with back-slappers and opportunists. He was very decisive because he trusted his instincts, and his motives were always pure and direct.
Keith was a leader and a mentor. During my campaigns and while serving in office, I was extremely lucky to have had an incredibly talented group of young staff members — many of them are here today. Each and every one of them was shaped, molded and mentored by Keith. He tried to instill in them the values that he believed were important in the workplace and especially in government:
Number One: Work hard. The way to get ahead is to be the first person at the office in the morning and the last one to leave at night.
Number Two: You must start at the bottom and work your way up. There’s no room for prima donnas and no job is beneath you.
Number Three: Be loyal. Period. Keith believed in loyalty and would stay true to the bitter end.
Keith was revered in the office. He never once screamed at a staff member, yet people feared letting him down. They just didn’t want to disappoint him.
Keith was by far the most brilliant strategist of downstate Democratic politics Illinois has ever seen. Part of this goes back to his being a scholar. Keith was somewhat of a savant when it came to demographics and county election returns. He could tell you without hesitating what percentage of the vote Mike Howlett got in Alexander County in 1976 or which Democrats were able to win Adams County in the last two decades. On election night, Keith could look at a sampling of eight downstate counties with only 20% of the returns in, and he could tell you right then and there whether the election was won or lost. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of downstate legislators, county chairmen and precinct committeemen, as well as little factoids about each and every county and county seat.
Last week, when I got the call that Keith had passed, I was talking to my brother Matt about everything we all had been through together and what a special guy Keith was. My last comment to Matt was: “It’s the end of an era ….. because they just don’t make ‘em like him anymore”. And it’s really true. Keith came from that old school of politics that rested firmly on things like respect, loyalty and honor — things that have slowly faded away over the last decade of Illinois politics.
There will never be anyone like Keith Taylor. But we will remember him. And we will aspire to be like him. And we are all better for having known him.
- m2010 - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 9:33 am:
everything I know about downstate politics I learned from Keith. Beyond politics, just a genuine human. Heck of a man, this state, his friends and family will miss him.
- RIP - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 9:34 am:
I was a staff holdover from Loleta Didrickson’s administration and worked under Hynes for awhile a year after he assumed office, before leaving to take another job. Despite my being from the other party, both Keith and Hynes treated me very well and very respectfully while I was there. I didn’t know either of them very well, of course, but was always very appreciative of the kindness they showed me. In my experience, most office holders aren’t particularly interested in making holdovers from a previous administration feel comfortable, especially if they’re from a differing party.
Condolences to Keith’s family and friends.
- Raising Kane - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 9:39 am:
Any coment here will pale compared to Dan’s eloquent eulogy. His words captured the Keith we knew and loved. Smart, loyal, wicked sense of irony and an all-around great guy.
You don’t find many people like Keith anymore…people take themselves so seriously but Keith never did. Heck, even when he was grouchy he would make you smile.
If you never had a chance to get to know Keith, you lost out. A wonderful guy with a big heart who enriched all of us who did have the pleasure of knowing him. Rest in peace my friend and Go Giants!!
- Louis Howe - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 9:51 am:
I knew Keith starting with Neal Hartigan. He was always a straight shooter…fair but firm in his beliefs. What a tragedy that he never had the opportunity to work with a strong effective Democratic Governor. He was among the best downstate democrats ever.
- Hey There - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 9:54 am:
Keith was a heckuva person and the Democratic Party was fortunate to have a class act like him involved like he was. Dan H did a great job with the eulogy paying tribute to Keith and letting people know what kind of guy he was. My only regret is that I did not get to know him even better.
- Cassiopeia - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 10:00 am:
We all can only hope to be as well-remembered when we pass.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 10:09 am:
I think your choice of Across the Universe is a very touching tribute.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 10:16 am:
Thanks, Bill.
- Stones - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 10:16 am:
I worked with Keith for a few years under Hartigan as well. Can’t say I knew him well but he was certainly a decent guy to me. Condolences to his family.
- Jaded - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 10:21 am:
Great guy. The San Francisco Giants lost a great fan.
- Observing - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 10:48 am:
Dan’s forth paragraph captures the essence to Keith’s view of public service. Public officials, elected or otherwise, should clip that paragraph and tape it to their bathroom mirror as a reminder of how to live one’s professional life. What a great state we would have if that miracle were to occur. Keith Taylor’s life is a guide to all of us in this business.
- red velvet - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 11:01 am:
Loved that guy. Rest in peace buddy.
- Robert Stephan - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 12:54 pm:
Dan’s eulogy was excellent. The whole service was a beautiful celebration of life. My first job in politics was working for Dan in the 2004 Senate primary. I interviewed with Keith and others. My recollection is he asked only one real question, getting right to the point in true Keith fashion. I’m proud and thankful to be among the dozens, probably hundreds, of young staffers Keith mentored. I pray for Keith that heaven is a Giants game, and his a front row seat, where he sits comforted by the love of his family and friends.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 1:10 pm:
Good of you to run this, Rich. And good of Hynes to ask that it be run.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 1:20 pm:
Keith was one of the really, truly good guys
- Porter McNeil - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 1:24 pm:
Yesterday’s memorial service was a fitting send off for Keith, for whom I worked 1999-2000 in the Statehouse. Serious, quirky, funny, smart, professional — Keith gave it his all. RIP, Keith, and thanks for posting Dan Hynes’ excellent eulogy.
- Reformed Public Servant - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 9:25 pm:
He was genuine. I was a nobody in another constitutional office, and in talking to him, I felt like I was someone. Truth of the matter is that Illinois needs more Keith Taylors, and regretably it has one less.
- Springfield Dem - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 11:10 pm:
I cannot let this thread close without reiterating. Keith’s commitment in doing what was right, ethical, in the best interest of state gov’t. No matter if you worked 2 years or the whole 12 years under the Hynes Adm, you gained valuable lifelong lessons from Keith to carry on throughout your career. Keith was my friend I will dearly miss him.RIP.
- Springfield Dem - Wednesday, Jul 17, 13 @ 11:12 pm:
Thank you Rich for the tribute tonight Keith.
- Abby Taylor Pfeiffer - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:14 pm:
Thank you for posting all of these wonderful comments about dad. He truly was on-of-a-kind. I will miss him every day. His lessons on how to live life and be a good person should live on in all of us. Love you papa!
- Abby Taylor Pfeiffer - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:16 pm:
Across the Universe was on of dad’s favorites. Good call!
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 18, 13 @ 3:20 pm:
You’re welcome, Abby.