Jimmy Taylor Jr. has pretty much been a part of the University community his whole life.

Growing up in South Onondaga, he was a regular presence on campus, thanks to his father, James Taylor Sr., who spent 35 years at the University working as a mason. From an early age, Jimmy cheered at games and visited campus with his dad, remembering one time watching his father skillfully lay tile in the former Vincent Apartments.

When Jimmy turned 18, his dad made it clear: it was time to start working. In November 1974, Jimmy joined the University’s workforce—much to his father’s pride—continuing the family’s legacy at a place that had long felt like home.

In April, he was honored at the One University Awards for his half-century of service to the University—50 years of hard work and dedication behind the scenes that help make University operations run smoothly.

“Jimmy has a great work ethic and consistently goes above and beyond in everything he does. His years of experience and deep knowledge have been a tremendous asset to the team, providing guidance, reliability and a standard of excellence that others strive to follow,” says Matthew Sessler, general maintenance supervisor in Facilities Services. “Jimmy’s commitment to quality and his proactive approach make a noticeable impact every day.”

He started in custodial services, working a 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at 611 University Ave. “That was really rough for a teenager, especially on a Friday night,” he remembers with a laugh. A year later, he moved to a day shift in Housing.

Taylor only intended to stay at the University for a short time and then move on. But he got married and their first child was born two years later. As he and his wife built their family, he was grateful for a stable job and benefits.

A true jack of all trades, he has worked in roles with the grounds crew, as a truck driver and in the carpenter shop. In 1979, he moved into general maintenance in Facilities Services and has been in that role for the past 46 years. “I have liked it, so I have stayed here,” he says.

Taylor and his team members respond to all kinds of maintenance calls around campus. He remembers some of the crazy calls over the years, including attempting to wrangle a chicken that was running down Marshall Street and calls to deal with bats in residence halls and academic buildings. “Those have always been exciting,” he says. No day, he says, has ever been the same.

With his skills, experience and knowledge of campus, Taylor has served as a group leader and mentor to younger colleagues. One of the best parts of the job, he says, is the people he has worked with.

He has seen the transformation of campus over the years, from the rise of new residence halls to the building of the JMA Wireless Dome, which was built as the Carrier Dome in the first few years of his tenure at the University. He watched as the Dome was inflated for the first time in 1980.

Taylor and his wife have four children and 11 grandchildren. Their youngest son graduated from the School of Information Studies and now works in the information field in Singapore. Outside of work, Taylor enjoys working on cars, boating and spending time with family at camp.

He is looking forward to retirement early next year. His wife, who ran a day care for decades, recently retired. They are looking forward to traveling and spending more time with their children and grandchildren.

“It’s been a good 50 years,” he says. “I’ve been happy, and I’ll miss it.”