USAO Logo

Taylor, Josephine Edwards 1997

In education, it's common for teacher's to move from one place to another. But Josephine Edwards Taylor, a 1928 Oklahoma College for Women graduate, defied the common place by spending four decades in one building. Earning her master's degree from Colorado State College of Education in 1940, she studied at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. When she was hired to teach science at El Reno High School in 1929, it never crossed her mind that she would teach 42 years in the same building before retiring in 1971. In 1955 McCall's magazine recognized her as one of the nation's 10 best teachers. She was named Canadian County's outstanding teacher of the year in 1969 and has been active in Delta Kappa Gamma for 56 years. She was recipient of the American Association of University Women Award of Distinction. Other honors include Hypatia Honor Society; Candidate for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, 1969; National Retired Teachers Association Certificate of Appreciation, 1984, 1985, 1991. Of the 6,000 students who graduated during her years at El Reno High School, she claims to have measured all of them for caps and gowns and ordered their diplomas.

Back to Gallery

--> -->