Richard Taylor to receive Edward W. Brooke Distinguished Public Service Award

Richard Taylor is being honored with the Edward W. Brooke Distinguished Public Service Award at the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus 13th Annual Good Guys luncheon on April 3 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel.

The caucus introduced the Good Guys Awards in 2002 to honor men who demonstrate an ongoing commitment and partnership in achieving equality for women. The award recognizes that the goals of attaining parity in politics and equality in American society can only be reached through the concerted efforts of men and women in all areas of professional life.

As Massachusetts’ first African American Secretary of Transportation, Taylor appointed women of color to major positions in his administration including as chair of the MBTA Board of Directors. He also has encouraged, mentored and supported women and young people to aspire to and attain high positions in the often challenging business community.

U.S. Senator Edward Brooke said he is “honored to have an award in his name given to someone of Richard’s caliber who has done so much locally and nationally as a respected businessman, entrepreneur, community leader and mentor to so many.”

Taylor is currently the founding director of the Center for Real Estate at Suffolk University, and chairman of the Taylor Smith group where he manages multiple real estate ventures. A respected community leader, he is active in the NAACP, is a former chair of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and a founder of the Minority Developers Association.

He is a Rhodes scholar, graduate of Boston University and has a master’s degree in business administration and a law degree from Harvard University.

The Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus is a non-partisan organization founded in 1971 to maximize the participation of women of all ages in the political process and to increase the number of women appointed and elected to public office and public policy positions. Prior Good Guys Awards winners include: Gov. Deval Patrick, Thomas M. Menino, J. Keith Motley, Sen. John Kerry, Byron Rushing and Charles J. Ogletree Jr.