Patsy Taylor Sloan

Published 11:12 am Friday, January 24, 2025

BOWLING GREEN – Patsy Taylor Sloan, beloved retired Bowling Green High School teacher and the first female mayor of Bowling Green, died January 21, 2025 at Colonial Manor. She was 85.

Patsy was born November 13, 1939, in Atlanta, Texas, a tiny sawmill town near Texarkana where her father was postmaster.

She is survived by her husband, Julius (Jay) Sloan; a younger brother, Robert P. Taylor, Jr. of Austin, Texas; a niece, Perri Taylor of Dallas, Texas; and a legion of former students and friends. Patsy was predeceased by her parents Ruth G. (Mears) and Robert P. Taylor. Patsy’s childhood was marked by travel. During World War II, she and her mother followed her father around the country while he inspected lumber being purchased for the war effort as a contractor for the War Department.

Their stops included a year in Brooklyn where Patsy and her mother learned to ride the subways and explored New York, perhaps the seed of the passion for “going and seeing” that was a prominent part of her adult life. In 1945 the family moved to San Angelo, a small city in far west Texas, where she grew up in a tight circle of friends that stayed together from grade school through high school with a few going through college. Patsy graduated from The University of Texas in 1962 and was a loyal alum and a do-or-die Longhorn fan. After college she returned to San Angelo where she taught history and government in high school for two years and won a Teacher of the Year award.

In November 1963 she secured a ticket to attend a political dinner in Dallas featuring President John F. Kennedy. A friendship connection moved her seat assignment to the first row below the head table. On the road to Dallas, she heard news of the assassination. In 1964 Patsy decided to pursue a master’s degree in political science at the University of Houston, where she found the love of her life.

She and Jay met in September, had their first date in October, were engaged in January, and married April 18, 1965, with Patsy wearing a pillbox hat. Some were skeptical of the whirlwind romance’s staying power, but this April would have marked Patsy and Jay’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. Surviving on two graduate teaching assistant fellowships was financially tight. At one point the checkbook balance was ninety-nine cents, prompting the adoption of a motto, “We’re poor, but we got prospects.” In the late summer of 1966 Patsy, M.A. in hand, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, with Jay so he could pursue doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University.

She taught at Hillsboro High School, which was then the top school in the district. It’s no surprise that she won another outstanding teaching award. In 1969 Patsy and Jay moved to Bowling Green. Patsy was hired as an adjunct instructor for the Government Department at Western Kentucky University and taught the intro class for two years, substituting for a faculty member on leave. In 1971, Patsy began her 31-year career at Bowling Green High.

She taught history and political science classes to a mostly adoring student body. She won teaching awards there as well. Her former students include judges, doctors, lawyers, nurses, prominent business persons, a four-star general, and of course many teachers. The same year she started at Bowling Green High, Patsy began pursuing her love for travel.

A trip to Alaska was followed the next year with six weeks spent touring Europe with Jay. Many trips followed, most with friends John and Nancy Parker, sometimes twice a year after retirement. The last was to Mongolia which capped visits to 48 countries all over the world, some explored lightly and others multiple times. Patsy’s political interests and connections had shown themselves early shortly after her first date with Jay in 1964, they had been invited to Lyndon Johnson’s ranch for a barbeque. In the 1970s, she revealed she had political talents as well, working in volunteer roles for many political campaigns.

In the spring and summer of 1976, while serving as the female chair of the Warren County Democratic Party, she maneuvered herself into being a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which nominated Jimmy Carter for president. His election led to invitations to his swearing-in and an inaugural ball followed later by two invitations to meetings at the White House. Also in 1976, she ran for office herself, seeking a seat on the Bowling Green City Commission.

Many of the “old hands” in local politics advised her that her chances were poor, that people just did not want a woman in public office, and, in fact, no woman had ever been elected in Warren County. Patsy ignored them and executed a carefully planned campaign with the assistance of more than one hundred volunteers. She not only won office but placed first.

Patsy went on to win reelection to the Commission an additional four terms. In thirteen primary and general elections she never lost a race. In 1986 she sought and won the office of mayor. Hers was an eventful and controversial four years. She was deeply involved in recruiting the Corvette Museum to move to Bowling Green and was the lynchpin of the Hartland Development which included a public golf course, the convention center, and a hotel.

Much criticism was heaped on her shoulders including in numerous editorials in the local newspaper. Patsy weathered the storm, and almost all the critics eventually conceded that the development was a good idea. Patsy chose not to run for a second term as mayor. Only a few close friends knew that her reason was the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Already feeling the effects in her feet and joints, Patsy decided that another of her signature campaigns was simply not possible.

Throughout her public life in local government, she maintained her duties as a high school teacher. Both students and school board believed that it did not detract from her teaching but enhanced it. Thousands of students were exposed to the challenges and rewards of public service through the inside views Patsy brought to the classroom. In all the public attention Patsy never wavered in her assertion that her first love and loyalty lay with her students. Her work as a teacher was always what she most wanted to be her legacy. Patsy’s community involvement began before and continued long after her time in public office. Space forbids a full listing, but she served as a board member and often as chair of many organizations including the Humane Society, the Airport Board, the Spouse Abuse Center, and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Of particular significance after elective service was her work on the Downtown Redevelopment Board which brought 300 million dollars of investment into Bowling Green. Never one to sit still, she participated in the arts though her involvement with SKyPAC, was a dedicated member of Christ Episcopal Church, played innumerable games of bridge in three different clubs, fed her reading interests in the Ladies Literary Club, and pursued financial education with the Ms. Grits investment club.

Patsy’s funeral service will occur at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 1, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1215 State Street, with visitation at the Church Friday, January 30 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. and on February 1, from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. before the service.

Interment in the columbarium of the church garden will immediately follow the service. Afterwards a reception to which all are invited will take place in Surface Hall with light food and beverages.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Christ Episcopal Church. J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapels has been entrusted with arrangements.