Richard Taylor was born during the Great Depression in Chillum, Maryland. Twenty years later, he served as a US Army paratrooper in Germany. Five years after that, he received his Bachelor of Architecture from Kent State University and then, a year later, his Master of Architecture from Georgia Tech. Subsequently, he taught Architectural Design there for 10 more years. During that time, he and Tom Collum created Taylor and Collum, Architects. This firm existed until 2024. With respect to personal professional recognition, Taylor was designated a Fellow in both the American Institute of Architects and the Explorers Club. His architectural firm received more than a dozen design awards.

With respect to identifying unfailing support for any of these modest achievements, he has a quiet partner in a 52-year-old marriage with Nancy Mitchell Taylor. It is this partner who must also be recognized in any thoughtful evaluation of his lifetime endeavors.