During his long career, Taylor primarily taught English but also dabbled in Latin and theology. In speaking to The Raider for a 2015 article about his then 50 years at the school, he noted, “When you work at an institution as long as I have, you begin to become a Jack-of-All-Trades.” He also shared that what drove him to continue teaching was seeing the connections between the knowledge students bring and the concepts he shared with them, believing that he learned just as much as the students in the process.

Taylor’s ‘Hit/Lit,’ later known as American Studies, course was frequently noted by students as their favorite class. Co-taught with a member of the Social Studies Department, the course was a pioneering approach to teaching both subjects simultaneously to better contextualize the material for students in both topics. Pat Venzke ‘93, shared that “one of the things that solidified my decision to attend Regis was Hit/Lit. The concept of the class was so unique that I wanted to have that as part of my learning experience.” 

Tim Bauer ’88, social studies and health & physical education teacher, took Taylor’s Hit/Lit class during his junior year at Regis Jesuit and recalls, “Ralph held us in his palm from day one. If you have ever watched Ralph teach, you know that he proceeds with deliberate speed—not too excitable, but not slow. At will, he opens the file drawer of his mind and pulls the perfect reference or corollary that encapsulates everything you were thinking, but better.” With a love of teaching and reading instilled in him through that Hit/Lit class with Taylor, Bauer became his colleague in the English Department wanting nothing more than “to teach like Ralph Taylor.” 

Beyond the classroom, Taylor was the voice of Raider sports, announcing home football and boys' basketball and soccer games, for more than 30 years. He also refereed freshman boys' basketball in the mid-1980s and even led an intrepid group of students in 1984 on a one-month trip around western Europe. 

When Taylor retired at the end of the 2019-20 school year, the world was in lockdown during the COVID pandemic. Despite not being able to gather in person to celebrate his amazing career, colleagues, alums and parents of those Ralph taught shared their memories and gratitude for his 55 years of dedicated service. Here is some of what was shared: