R.I.P.: Jack Taylor, Former WGN-TV Chicago News Anchor

Jack Taylor, a TV news anchor in Chicago for more than 20 years who helped put WGN-TV near the top of the 10 p.m. news ratings in the 1970s, died of heart failure over the weekend, reports The Daily Herald citing a station announcement Sunday. He was 94.

Taylor worked alongside Len O'Connor, Harry Volkman and Jack Brickhouse during that decade before he was replaced by John Drury in 1979. Taylor went on to do news talk shows or business programs such as "The Wall Street Journal Report" and "The Stock Market Observer" on Channel 26, and he worked for WKRS 1220-AM in Waukegan. In retirement, he did a weekly segment on the College of DuPage's radio station.

Taylor caught the broadcasting bug during his stint on Armed Forces Radio. After the service, he started working in small radio markets like South Dakota and Iowa. Taylor and his wife, Virginia, then came to Chicago in 1950 and co-hosted a talk show on WGN 720-AM radio. Taylor also worked at WBBM and WCFL.

In 1958, during tough economic times, Taylor was out of work while Virginia stayed at home caring for their three children. Deeply depressed and fearing he had no future in broadcast, he took a job selling Fuller Brushes on commission. When he heard about auditions for a TV news anchor in Chicago, he jumped at the chance.