Taylor was born in Philadelphia. He received a BS degree in Zoology from Pennsylvania State University and a MS degree in Physiology from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught biology and related subjects for over two decades at the college, high school, and middle school levels. Teaching gave Taylor great satisfaction, but he never appreciated having to give (or receive) grades; they do not belong in education. While teaching, he amassed a collection of birds and snakes with which he gave lectures. His interest in animals eventually led to a zoo career. Taylor was curator in three zoos located in Puerto Rico, Oklahoma City and El Paso, Texas. In El Paso, Taylor saw the movie, "Conrack," adapted from Pat Conroy's novel The River is Wide. Most of the movie was filmed along the Georgia coast, and the sheer beauty of the area made a deep impression on Taylor which eventually led him and his family to the coast of Georgia.

Taylor enjoyed teaching biology and related subjects for more than two decades at the college, high school and middle school levels. In his twelve years as a Marine Education Specialist with the University of Georgia, Taylor conducted marine programs for schools, colleges and the general public throughout the Southeast and he assisted with the development of several environmental education centers in Georgia. His years of study and teaching on Georgia's barrier islands and in the Okefenokee Swamp induced him to share his discoveries through the writing of three guides: A Naturalist Guide to the Okefenokee Swamp, A Guide to a Georgia Barrier Island and A Naturalists Guide to St. Simons Island.