Taylor, Nelson Ferebee

Nelson Ferebee Taylor (1920-2004) of Oxford, N.C., was a corporate lawyer, professor of law, and chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1972-1980.

Nelson Ferebee Taylor (1920-2004) of Oxford, N.C., was a corporate lawyer, university chancellor, and professor of law.

Taylor graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1942 with a degree in American history. While a student, he participated as a member or officer of Phi Beta Kappa, University Club, the student legislature, Zeta Psi, Order of the Golden Fleece, and the Order of the Grail. After graduation, Taylor enlisted in the United States Navy. During World War II, he served as a midshipman aboard destroyers in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific, during which time he was awarded the bronze star, nine battle stars, and two commendations. After release from active duty, Taylor attended Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1949. Following law school Taylor studied at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship.

Upon returning to the United States, Taylor joined the New York law firm of Arthur, Dry and Dole, as an associate from 1951 to 1958. He made partner at Arthur, Dry, Kalish, Taylor and Wood, where he stayed until 1970.

Taylor maintained close ties to North Carolina throughout his corporate law career. He served as president of the University of North Carolina Alumni of Metropolitan New York and as trustee of the North Carolina Society of New York. In 1968, he returned to North Carolina as a visiting professor. Two years later he accepted the position of vice president for administration, a position he held until his tenure as the university's fifth chancellor, from 1972 to 1980. His administration was marked by improvements to library facilities, endowment growth, and building on the campus. Taylor resigned as chancellor in 1980 for health reasons, but remained on the law school faculty until his retirement in 1991.

Taylor received many honors while at the University of North Carolina, including the Frederick B. McCall Award for teaching excellence in 1983; a Distinguished Service Medal in 1988 from the the UNC General Alumni Association; and honorary doctor of laws degrees from Elon College in 1973, Duke University in 1977, and UNC in 1993. In 2001, he received the William R. Davie Award from the UNC Board of Trustees.

Taylor married Louise Ellington in 1946 and with her had daughters Louise Ferebee Taylor, Sarah Taylor Peterson, and Martha Gregory Taylor. In 1986, he married his second wife Diane Jackson Taylor.