Clarence Gordon Taylor, Jr., 77, a retired Atlanta-area technical schoolteacher and a dedicated fan of the circus, died Aug. II, 2012, in a hospice in Atlanta. GA. He lived in the Atlanta suburb of Tucker. Death was due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which had affected his health for many years. Gordon, as he was known by his many performer and Fan friends, was predeceased by his father, Clarence Gordon Taylor, Sr. (1909-1991); mother, Margaret Claudius Taylor (1914 2004); and brother, Stuart Claudius Taylor (1946-2003), all of Charlotte, N.C. He is survived by a niece, Christine Woodie, of Waxhaw, NC; and his longtime companion, Ray Gronso, of Tucker. It was during the early ’70s that Gordon developed a love of circus that became obsessive and all consuming. And it became the focus of his unique writing skill, both insightful and colorful. (He once described a fire-eater’s upward blast as “causing birds to drop from the sky … fully cooked.”) Gordon’s numerous reviews and articles pertaining to all aspects of the industry were closely read and highly regarded, valued additions to the store of circus history. Such was his interest and joy among his fellow fans that he attended circuses all over the United States and in many foreign countries, often traveling with a large contingent of fans in a Bill Whitney tour group. Gordon was born April 30, 1935, in Asheville, N.C. In 1953, he graduated from Harding High School, Charlotte, N.C., and then attended The Citadel in Charleston, where in 1957 be earned a bachelor of arts in political science. That fall, he worked at Oak Ridge Military Institute, N.C., where he met and, on June 4, 1960, married Anne Lanier Whitaker. The marriage was dissolved by mutual agreement three years later. Gordon served four years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Harlingen, Texas, advancing to the rank of lieutenant colonel and finishing his obligation as a navigation instructor. Upon leaving the military, he worked in industrial sales with Tube Distributors Co., Inc., in Arlington, Texas. He earned his teaching certification while attending North Texas State University at Denton, Texas. In 1965, while attending classes at Georgia State College, he joined the staff at the Arlington Schools, Inc., in Atlanta. In the fall of 1968, he was hired by Atlanta Area Tech, where he taught math. In 1982,while working at Atlanta Area Tech, Gordon earned his master of education from Georgia Stale College. In retirement, driven by his love of and fascination with elephants, Gordon volunteered as a docent at Zoo Atlanta. He also volunteered at Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wis. At his own expense, he addressed SCANA (the national Shrine Circus organization) on the subject of animal welfare. He was a member of the Circus Historical Society, the Circus Fans Association of America (at one time holding the office of secretary/treasurer), the Elephant Managers Association, Showfolks of Sarasota and numerous other related organizations. As the Tent’s secretary/treasurer, be generously supported the Atlanta Duggan-Maley Tent 116, CFA. A true southern gentleman. Tags: 1957
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