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John Taylor Award of Excellence

The John Taylor Award of Excellence was created by the California Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Association (CCBSA) in 2003 and is named in honor of John Lockhart Taylor, a tireless supporter and former member of CCBSA and an esteemed past president.  John Taylor passed away on June 25, 2016.

John’s public service history was long and enduring. It included serving in the U.S. Navy as an Electronic Technician, as City Manager in cities from coast to coast (Narberth, Pennsylvania; Lakewood, New Jersey; Fresno, California; Berkeley California) and in between (Kansas City Missouri). For sixteen years, John also served as Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for the City and County of San Francisco.

John’s formal educational background included degrees in political science from Middlebury College in Vermont and a master’s degree in state and local government from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. John’s informal education developed by being a lifelong student of history and political affairs, and by his endless thirst for knowledge on matters big and small.

Using his background and interest in public service and his training and skills in computer programming, in 1989 John developed and launched the renowned and revered “Clerks' Quiz” at the CSAC/CCBSA Annual Conference. Until his passing on June 25, 2016, John continued to provide leadership and direction on improving the Quiz. The Clerks' Quiz continues to test and challenge participant’s knowledge on a wide range of county trivia including geography, state leadership, county landmarks and county seats. The Quiz also serves to prominently profile CCBSA, and the work of Clerks of the Board, to CSAC colleagues from across the State and from across county government disciplines.

Previous awardees of the John Taylor Award of Excellence include:

  • John McKibben, County of Los Angeles (2005)
  • Nationwide Retirement Solutions (2006)
  • San Joaquin County Supervisor Victor Mow (2008)
  • Denise Pennell, County of Kern (2009)

Criteria For Nomination:

The John Taylor Award is an award of high distinction. As such, it is not necessarily an annual award, but is given to recognize an individual or a group from outside of CCBSA who has made an outstanding contribution to CCBSA and/or the Clerk of the Board profession.

  • The nominee shall be an individual or a group who has demonstrated outstanding public service during an entire career, or the preceding twelve-month period.
  • The nominee shall be an individual or a group who has demonstrated a spectrum of efforts, from individual commitment and service to the Clerk of the Board profession and CCBSA, to the ability to create a viable organization and involve others.
  • The nominee shall be an individual or a group who has demonstrated initiative and the ability to translate ideas into practical results. (Examples might be a member of the Assembly or the Senate who has sponsored legislation on behalf of the Clerks’ Association; or some major volunteer effort by an individual; or a Board of Supervisor’s member that has made a significant contribution to the overall good of the Association, etc.)

Time Parameters:

  • Nominations for the John Taylor Award shall coincide with time parameters for Bylaw changes.
  • Therefore, proposed nominations for the John Taylor Award shall be submitted to the Awards and Recognition Committee Chairperson.
  • Following the submittal deadline, the Recognition Committee Chairperson will provide a list of nominations for all Committee members to review.

Nomination Process:

  • Nominations should be submitted to the CCBSA President ([email protected]) as the Chair of the Awards and Recognition Committee.
  • Nominations should include the name of the individual or group being nominated and brief examples illustrating how the nominee meets the established criteria for consideration. The written nomination should also provide the nominee’s contact information.
  • Nominations are due by October 15, 2024. Please send nominations to Alicia Draves, Chair, Awards and Recognition Committee [email protected].

Process for Selection:

  • Awards and Recognition Committee Chairperson shall schedule a Committee meeting to consider nominees and to make a selection for the award. Copies of nomination letters may be provided to Committee Members.
  • No individual shall be eligible to receive the John Taylor Award of Excellence more than once.
  • The John Taylor Award of Excellence shall not be awarded posthumously.
  • No member of the Awards and Recognition Committee shall be eligible to receive the John Taylor Award of Excellence while serving as a member of the Committee.

Award Process:

  • Award will be purchased by Awards and Recognition Committee Chairperson or designee.
  • Awards and Recognition Committee Chairperson or designee will prepare pertinent information for CCBSA President to use in announcing/presenting award.
  • Awards and Recognition Committee Chairperson or designee will contact both the awardee and Chairperson of the County, if applicable, for which the award recipient works to advise him or her of the recognition.