The Clayton Chamber Commerce is proud to announce Justin A. Taylor as their 2021 Clayton Citizen of the Year!
Alvan (89 years in 2014) & Patricia Taylor (93 years) arrived in Clayton in 1969 from the Boston area with their oldest son Justin, our 2021 honoree, and his siblings. In 2002, Al and Pat were Clayton’s Citizens of the Year.
Justin and his wife of 43 years, Debra Grey Taylor have a son, Ryan (Kaylee) and granddaughter Rylee Taylor (Lake Placid), a daughter, Amanda Taylor (Nick Matuszczak) with children Grady and Lili Draper, Espen and Peyton Matuszczak (Lake Placid & Lowville). Former son-in-Law, Chip Draper (Leah) with
daughter Jacqueline (Lake Placid).
Justin’s family members also include brother Alson & Kelly Taylor, Nancy & Fred Taylor Schmitt, Matt & Barb Taylor all of Clayton and Mark & Tamara Taylor, Watertown as well as Meryl Boyce Fischer 1971 Australian American Field Service Foreign Exchange Student currently Dallas TX.
The Taylor’s have lived on Theresa St. in the Village 1978-1986, Saratoga Springs 1986 – 1994 and on the Cape Road for 35 years.
In 1972 Justin graduated from Thousand Islands Central-Clayton School. He continued his education at JCC and received a Degree in Business Administration. Justin attended specialty Graduate level courses through SUNY Albany, Russell Sage College, Empire State College, NYS GOER Leadership Classroom and Department of Justice – National Institute of Corrections – Executive Leadership (Boulder, Colorado.)
Justin’s career in Law Enforcement began 1977 at the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff until 1982. It was them that he began his NYS Department of Correctional Service as a Correctional Officer. He was promoted to Fire Safety Coordinator (1986-1994) where he was responsible for Statewide NYS Correctional Facilities fire and occupational safety and providing supervision to staff in each of the 72 facilities. Justin received another promotion in 1994 as the Deputy Superintendent/Administration at Cape Vincent Correctional Facility where he had direct responsibility for a 25-million-dollar budget and 525 employees. In 2001, Justin was promoted to Superintendent of Camp Gabriel’s Correctional Facility. In 2003 Justin was promoted to Superintendent of the Gouverneur Correctional Facility and remained there until his retirement on June 30, 2011. During his leadership period in DOCS, he consulted nationally as an expert witness for the Federal Court System on prison fire and safety issues. In addition, he was Member and Audit Team Leader of the American Correctional Association and National President of the Correctional Accreditation Managers Association.
Justin’s extensive Volunteer Service to the community began in 1975 as a Member of the Clayton Fire Department. He has held offices of 2nd Assistant ,1st Assistant, and Chief of the Department, Secretary and currently is the Treasurer (1995-2007, 2018-Present). He is the Senior Captain of the Fire Boat “Last Chance”. In addition to the positions he has held, he also attended the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid as Fire Officer with 4 other Clayton Fire Department members, Bob Purcell, Russ Marceau, David Bulterman and James Haight.
Justin’s additional volunteer services include:
- Member of the River Community and Ballston Spa Baptist Churches and previously served as Church Moderator and Chair of the Pastor Relations Committee
- Member of the Town of Clayton Joint Fire District serving as Vice Chairman from 2017 – present
- Member of the Board of Directors of Clayton Yacht Club currently serving as the Vice Commodore
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Thousand Islands Foundation
- Member of the Village of Clayton Sesquicentennial serving as Treasurer (present)
- Member Thousand Islands Land Trust, Zenda Farms Committee (ZPAC)
- Member of the Clayton Local Development Corporation (2007 – 2015)
- Past President Jefferson County Supervisors Association (2008 – 2012)
- Member of the Jefferson County Public Safety Task Force when Fort Drum was being expanded in the early 1980’s
- Honorary Trustee of the Antique Boat Museum Board (2007 – 2015)
- Ex officio member of the Thousand Island Emergency Rescue Service (2007 – 2015)
- Member of Sons of American Legion Post 821 from 1976 to present (46.5 years)
Justin’s 21 years of Political activity began in 1994 as a Town Board Member. During his tenure as a Board Member and Supervisor he worked as part of a strong committed team of elected and volunteer community leaders to plan and implement the projects that have taken Clayton to the next level. Without this Federal/State/County/Town/Village/CLDC/Chamber partnership we wouldn’t have the Regional Dock, Main Street Enhancements, Opera House Renovation, Frink Concept Masterplan, Riverwalk’s, Municipal Marina and 4 Diamond Harbor Hotel.
Justin served as Supervisor from 2007 – 2015 (8 Years) and Harbor Master from 2015 – 2018. He is a Member of the Town of Clayton Board of Assessment Review serving as Chairman 2015-present.
Justin will be honored at the Clayton Celebrates! event on November 4th at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel. Cocktail Hour will begin at 5:30pm. Awards will be presented at 6:30pm with a plated dinner to follow. Reservations are now closed.