From the time he entered his father's real estate business, Alexander S. Taylor*, MAI, of Cleveland became closely identified with the life of his city. He served two terms as a director of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Union Depot Commission, and aquired for the city land for various street extensions and for the widening and straightening of the Cuyahoga River. Some of downtown Cleveland's larger buildings, notably the Hippodrome, the Higbee, the Hanna, the Hotel Statler and the May Company, were built on land negotiated on a 99-year lease by Al Taylor, who also planned and developed areas that became Cleveland's finest residential sections.
Mr. Taylor was one of the founders of the Cleveland Real Estate Board and served as its president in 1908. One of the founders of the National Association of REALTORS®, Mr. Taylor gave practically his full time to Association work during his year as president. At the end of the year he was practically able to report a membership gain of 115 percent, publication of the first roster of members, adoption of the first corporate seal and membership certificate, first action on federal legislation affected real estate and the first movement for enactment by every state legislature of a uniform law requiring licensing of real estate brokers.
As a "dollar-a-year man" he served during World War I in assembling land needed by the government. President of V. C. Taylor & Son, Inc., and of the Corydon Realty Company, he was active in the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Land Title Guarantee and Trust Co., and of other savings institutions and was senior vice commander of the Loyal Legion for Ohio.
Source: Presidents of the National Association of REALTORS®, (Chicago: NAR, 1980).
*Deceased