I graduated from high school in 1965 and volunteered for the draft a couple years later. Almost a year after joining the army I found myself in Viet Nam. It was quite a sight for a Kansas boy that didn't leave my home state until I was 18 years old. After the army I attended Kansas State College in Pittsburg Kansas, gr … Read more I graduated from high school in 1965 and volunteered for the draft a couple years later. Almost a year after joining the army I found myself in Viet Nam. It was quite a sight for a Kansas boy that didn't leave my home state until I was 18 years old. After the army I attended Kansas State College in Pittsburg Kansas, graduating with a degree in Biology. I combined my electronics training from the army with my degree and began working on electronic instruments used in the biomedical and bio chemical field.

I eventually ended up as manager of electrical engineering for a company in Woodbridge VA. Seven years later they promoted me to manufacturing manager. This was a job I loved, getting paid to figure out how to make things! From there I became a manufacturing consultant. It is this experience that I bring to the art of making a beautiful and exquisitely comfortable rocking chair.

I have been making rocking chairs for almost 20 years. During that 20 year period I have been constantly developing means and methods of making a rocking chair more and more comfortable. I have taught almost 1000 people through my "Rocking Chair University" program where I teach in house and also have materials available (book, video and templates) with which folks can make their own rocking chair.

People who own "Hal Taylor" rocking chairs include, HRH Prince Charles of England, Sam Maloof, Dave Matthews and Hal Needham (Stunt man hall of fame). There are a lot more.

I have sold chairs over much of the world, including France, Australia, China, Canada, The Virgin Islands, England and Ireland.

Many of my students sell chairs on the internet now, which helps to keep me "on my toes"!