Taylor Fields

Taylor Fields, founding member and the managing partner of Fields & Brown, passed away on July 28, 2021. Taylor’s passion for the practice of law and his commmitment to Fields & Brown will be remembered.

He was a long term member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, who recognized his life time achievement with the Dean of Trial Award, Jackson County Bar Association, who recognized his life time achievement with the Judge Lewis W. Clymer Award and the National Bar Association, who recognized his life time achievement with the Cora Walker Legacy Award. He also was inducted in the National Bar Association Hall of Fame. He was an active member of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms.

Taylor served in numerous other community service organizations.

• He was elected to three (3) terms on the Grandview School District Board of Education. He was the first African American to serve in this position. During this period, the District consistently climbed in academic standards and significantly increased its hiring of minority teachers and administrators.
• He served as the treasurer of SCLC of Greater Kansas City for more than 18 years. For more than 25 years, he served as program chairman for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Perhaps one of his most enduring accomplishments on behalf of SCLC and the larger community that SCLC serves was his successful argument before the Missouri supreme court in establishing a livable minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.
• He served as a lifelong member of the NAACP. He also was a member of the Midwesterners social club.
• For more than 25 years, Taylor served on the Matthew Dickey’s Board of Directors in St. Louis, Missouri.
• He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the City Union Mission.

Anyone who knew Taylor knew that he had a lifelong passion for black history. He served as chairman of the board of directors of Black Archives of Mid-America. During his service, the black archives became a haven for black articles, art, and news.

Taylor served faithfully at Paseo Baptist Church since he and his wife became members in 1973. He served as a trustee for more than 30 years and as chairman of the trustee board for more than 25 years.

Taylor was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., since he joined the Delta Omega Chapter at the University of Missouri in 1964. He also was appointed to the Midwest Province Board of Directors.