(June, 1929 - Sept, 1931) George Floyd Taylor was born in Duplin County, North Carolina, near the town of Magnolia, on August 10, 1881. From birth he suffered a crippling physical condition described by those who knew him as spastic or palsylike. This problem made it difficult for him to walk or do anything that required muscular co-ordination. In fact, because of this apparent handicap, very little chance of his achieving anything in life was anticipated by his family. He didn't even start school until age ten.

Very soon, however, George Floyd Taylor began exhibiting two of his most outstanding qualities, his superior intellectual power and an unwavering will to succeed. He completed his elementary and secondary school education in ten years, and in 1901 he enrolled in the University of North Carolina with the intention of completing a B.A. degree and then going to seminary for three years to earn the B.D. degree.

Something significant happened the next year to alter Taylor's life from that point forward. He first was converted at a holiness meeting in the Methodist Church of Magnolia, North Carolina, and in 1903 he joined the Pentecostal Holiness Church and was licensed to preach the same day. For financial reasons he was not able to continue his education at the University of North Carolina, but the consuming vision for a holiness school was born at this time. That vision never left.

On October 12, 1903, at the age of 22 he opened the Bethel Holiness School near Rose Hill, North Carolina. After he had embraced the doctrine of Pentecost four years later, he had to leave the school but soon was asked to head the Falcon Holiness School in Falcon, North Carolina. Here he stayed until 1916, and during that time he founded the Sunday School literature operation as a private business, supplying the Pentecostal Holiness Church with a full line of teaching material. His Sunday School literature production continued until 1929 when he sold the business to the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Amazingly, he wrote four quarterlies (beginner, primary, youth, adult) by dictating the Sunday School lessons to the secretary.

In 1917 Taylor was appointed the first editor of the Church's official publication, THE PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS ADVOCATE, a magazine that continues to this day. He served as editor of THE ADVOCATE from 1917 to 1925 and again from 1929 until his death in 1934.

The year 1919 brought another significant step in G. F. Taylor's life. Property had been obtained for the church in Franklin Springs, Georgia, and Taylor was asked to start a school there. The school opened on January 1, 1919 with thirty students in grades ranging from one through eleven. The number increased to fifty-four by the end of the term. Franklin Springs Institute was born.

G. F. Taylor served as the first president of Franklin Springs Institute from 1919 to 1926 and again from 1929 to 1931, when the school was forced to close for two years because of the depression that hit America. In 1933 he returned as a classroom teacher and served in that role until his death the next year on November 16, 1934. He was 53 years old.

Taylor's years as president of Franklin Springs Institute were filled with heartache, insurmountable obstacles, and daily hardships. Yet he remained determined through it all. Pouring his life and finances into the operation of the school, Taylor worked a minimum of 14 hours a day teaching, superintending the school, editing THE ADVOCATE, writing Sunday School literature, managing the Publishing House, and pastoring the Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church. In the evenings he spent hours supervising students in study hall. This kind of routine would have been taxing for a man in top physical condition, and with his handicap Taylor no doubt suffered constant pain and fatigue.

G. F. Taylor's many achievements include numerous other facets. In 1926 he resigned his position as head of Franklin Springs Institute and after 25 years returned to the University, of North Carolina where he completed the A.B. degree in two years. Following graduation he took a long planned trip to Palestine resulting in a book entitled A TOUR OF BIBLE LANDS. Upon his return he began work on his master's degree at the University of North Carolina, achieving this with great difficulty as he could not write with a pen.

Other publications by G. F. Taylor include a number of books (THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS; THE DEVIL; THE SABBATH; rHE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE; DANIEL'S SEVENTY WEEKS; THE RAINBOW) and several Biblical dramas which were presented during the commencement exercises at the Franklin Springs Institute. This truly remarkable man also served the Pentecostal Holiness Church as Conference Superintendent, General Treasurer, and the lighest office of the denomination, General Superintendent. It is safe to say that if had not been for the sacrifice, perseverance, and ietermination ofG. F. Taylor, Emmanuel College would not exist today.