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Adair Countian Melvin Traylor famed, also, as ornithologist He was not only a favorite son of Illinois candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 1932, a highly respected Chicago and Hillsborough, TX banker, he was a highly respected ornithologist. He even had on bird named for him. This story by Jim, earlier posted as "Of Birds and Bankers," is reposted to help kick off another GBBC weekend, February 13-14-15, 2016. Related story: The Great American Bird Count starts at midnight by Jim During this, the Great Backyard Bird Count of '10, let us remember that one of the premier ornithologists of the 20th century had roots in the Auld Sod of Adair. Every true Adair Countian knows the rags-to-riches story of native son Melvin Alvah Traylor, the lad of 20 years who left his home near Breeding a few days before Christmas 1898 on his way to Texas to seek his fame and fortune -- and found it. Mr. Traylor was briefly boomed as a Democratic candidate for president in 1932 and shortly before his death had been appointed to the advisory board of the National Broadcasting Company, a still-fledgling but quickly growing entity. At the time of his death in 1934, Mr. Traylor was President of the First National Bank of Chicago. The Handbook of Texas Online notes that, among many other accomplishments, he was "credited with stopping depositors' runs on his own bank and on others as well" during the Depression So, you ask, what does an Adair Countian turned Chicago banker have to do with birders? Simply put, everything. Banker Traylor's son, Melvin A. Traylor, Jr., (1915-2008) was an inveterate birdwatcher as a youth and in 1937, began a career in ornithology at Field Museum that spanned over six decades. His work at Field was interrupted during World War II. Lt. Traylor served in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific, was severely wounded (including the loss of an eye) in the battle for Tarawa, and was awarded the Silver Star for heroism under fire. After the war, he resumed his career as an ornithologist at Field Museum and in 1956, became assistant curator of birds there. He retired in the 1980s and then served as curator emeritus for several years. In 2001 the Elliott Coues Award was presented jointly to Mr. Traylor and Raymond A. Paynter, Jr., "whose contributions to systematic ornithology and biogeography span half a century and whose painstaking work helped create two genuine landmarks for ornithology that will be primary resources for generations to come." (see The Auk, Jan. 2002). He was also "among the authors (alongside Raymond A. Paynter, Ernst Mayr and G. William Cottrell) of Checklist of Birds of the World, a standard reference work with sixteen volumes published between 1934 and 1987" (Cryptomundo Obit, see also Wikipedia entry) and had a bird, the orange-eyed flycatcher (Tolmomyias traylori) of South America, named in his honor. A great "backyard birder," indeed! This story was posted on 2015-02-12 11:15:41
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Landscaping at the courthouse Eunice Church of God Black History program Sun 22 Feb 2015 Casey County Schools are closing at 11:30amCT today Courthouse landscaping on the agenda for Adair Heritage Chance Barnett helps grant birthday wish for 9 year old boy VFW Post 6097 will discuss Veterans Administrations Clinic Video: 2014 Adair County Health Rankings 10 Feb 2014 Adair Grand Jury returns indictments Comment: In full support of Chester Whittington's dream Attorney General issues letter to Anthem regarding data breach View even more articles in topic News |
 
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