Hays CISD Mourns The Loss of Phillip Taylor, District’s Director Of Safety & Security

The Hays Consolidated Independent School District, Hays County, and law enforcement and emergency responders are mourning the unexpected loss of Phillip Taylor.

Taylor died in a car accident Thursday evening on FM 2770 south of Buda. Taylor, who spent most of his career with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, was hired last September by Hays CISD to become the district’s first director of safety and security.

He was also serving as the Mayor of Mountain City and as a volunteer emergency management specialist with the Hays County Office of Emergency Management at the time of his death.

“We are extremely saddened by Phillip’s death – both personally and professionally,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright. “We couldn’t have asked for a more competent, highly skilled, and dedicated person to serve as our safety and security director. We also couldn’t have asked for a more friendly, fun, and compassionate colleague. Phillip was not just a coworker; he was a member of our school district and community family who will be profoundly missed.”

Before working for Hays CISD, Taylor had earned the rank of sergeant with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. At various times during his tenure as a sergeant, he oversaw the School Resource Officer (SRO) program for three school districts in Hays County and supervised and managed the community outreach, crime prevention, and public information teams; the transport unit; and the government center security division. He also served as an instructor for numerous courses focused on law enforcement.

From 2006 to 2010, Taylor was a Sheriff’s Office detective. Before that, he was a deputy sheriff and served as a field training officer for the patrol division. He began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in January 2000 as a corrections officer.

“It wasn’t just Phillip’s experience and talent that made him uniquely perfect to be our first safety and security director. It was also his deep ties to our school district and community that attracted us to him,” said Dr. Wright. “On behalf of our entire school district, I want to extend our thoughts and prayers to Phillip’s parents, Lee and Glennis, and his son Aiden, and thank them for sharing such an amazing person with us.”

Taylor was a 1996 graduate of Hays High School. He also attended Kyle Elementary and what was then called Kyle Intermediate School.

Below is a brief statement from Mayor Travis Mitchell of Kyle:

“I’m saddened to learn of the passing of a good friend and outstanding public servant today. Phillip Taylor was a life-long resident of Hays County. He dedicated his life to serving and protecting the members of our community for over two decades with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. He was a loving husband, father and friend to everyone. Phillip’s dedication to our community is evident as he was recently appointed as Hays CISD’s first Director of Safety and Security and also was elected as mayor of Mountain City. These roles fit his life mission perfectly and there was no one better than Philip to fill them. Our hearts and prayers go out to Phillip’s family, friends and those he worked so diligently to serve and protect.”