Taylor wanted to honor and build upon KU ROTC’s excellence. He was inspired, along with son-in-law Joe Feifer, a KU graduate school alumnus who earned an MBA in 2021, to establish the Taylor-Feifer Jayhawk Battalion Leadership Excellence Award to support outstanding cadets in the KU ROTC program.  

The award provides support for outstanding cadets to purchase Army commissioning uniforms through Marlow White Uniforms, based in Leavenworth, Kansas. While the Army provides a one-time clothing stipend to cadets upon commissioning, often cadets pay out of pocket to get their initial uniform before graduation or for extras the stipend doesn’t cover. Taylor seized on the opportunity to partner with Marlow White, which has been providing military uniforms since 1879.  

“Here’s an awesome Kansas company that grew from nothing and is now nationally known for high-quality uniforms, and this provides that excellence for cadets, so they stand out,” Taylor said.  

It isn’t just about uniforms. The award also provides funds for special events highlighting the Jayhawk Battalion across the nation, such as travel and expenses to participate in competitions with other ROTC units.  

“We want to promote and build that culture of excellence,” Taylor said. “It’s about knowing, every year, that we can compete or participate, not question whether the funds will be available or whether we’ll even have a team.”   

It’s all about family legacies for Taylor. His father was in the military and was acquainted with Marlow White, the uniform company’s namesake. He appreciates collaborating with his son-in-law, an Army officer who teaches at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and who was able to earn his advanced degree at KU through the Army’s Intermediate Level Education program. The cadets who receive the award will be instrumental in carrying on that legacy.  

Reagan Warburton, of Cedar Vale, Kansas, was an ROTC cadet at KU when she was one of two recipients of the inaugural award in 2023, along with fellow cadet Christopher Libert. Warburton was going through a busy, crucial point in the build-up to her Army career and was deeply grateful to eliminate the burden of paying for her uniforms.  

“This gesture goes far beyond simply providing me with [Army Green Service Uniforms] — it represented support and belief in me and has pushed me to continue striving for excellence in all areas,” Warburton said. “It is no secret that a new dress uniform is a large financial undertaking, yet this donation allowed me to wear them with pride and professionalism without carrying the weight of the cost. I truly think this donation is a reminder of the impact that kindness and community support can have.”  

Much of KU’s history and tradition honors veterans, including several monuments along Memorial Drive on the Lawrence campus, the football stadium, the student union and the World War II Memorial Campanile, the iconic tower that reaches “toward the blue.” In the Memorial Room at the Campanile’s base are the names of 277 KU alumni, students, faculty, and staff who died in World War II. Taylor is proud of those connections and the continuing service of students and ROTC cadets.  

“This university means a lot to us,” he said. “The image of these proud cadets, these Jayhawks, will live in perpetuity.” 

Make a contribution to the Taylor-Feifer Award fund to support KU ROTC excellence.