From 1948-1955 he was on staff at Rutgers as an extension crop specialist. In 1955, he left Rutgers to pursue his Ph.D. at Penn State University. After receiving his degree, he joined the faculty at Penn State in agronomy extension.
On Aug. 31, 1950, he married Henrietta Hauck in Dunellen, New Jersey, who survives at home.
During his tenure at Penn State he served as extension forage specialist, with a primary goal of helping farmers improve forage production. He was an organizer of the International Grassland Congresses in Brazil (1964) and chairman of the Governing Board for the XIV Congress in Lexington, Kentucky (1981).
While on sabbatical leave in 1970 he traveled extensively with his family around the world, presenting lectures in both New Zealand and Australia. From 1973-77, Baylor and PSU participated in a 5-year contract with the Bahamian government, making several trips there to assist the development of an applied-research-oriented Agricultural Research Center on Andros Island, Bahamas.
While at Penn State, he was an active member of the American Society of Agronomy and the American Forage and Grassland Council, a founding member of the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council, and was widely published in his field, receiving awards from many national and international societies.
He was fondly known to many as “Mr. Alfalfa” and the “the Moses of Penn State Agriculture.”
In 1983 he retired from Penn State as professor emeritus of agronomy extension, then joined Beachley-Hardy Seed Company as director of market development until 1991.
In 1987 he became the executive director of the Atlantic Seedsmen’s Association, a position he held until 2002. He was involved professionally in national and international associations until his death.
Locally he was actively involved in the State College Kiwanis Club and Pasto Agricultural Museum at Penn State and was an avid Lady Lions Basketball fan. Throughout his time in Sate College, he was a longtime active member of State College Presbyterian Church where he served faithfully as a deacon and elder.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, he is survived by two daughters: Sue Colbath (Donald) of Austin, Texas, and Martha Trout (Kerry) of State College, Pennsylvania, as well as two granddaughters, Jillian Keith of Austin, Texas, and Kristen Trout of Exeter, New Hampshire, and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, brother Horace A. Baylor preceded him in death.
He was loved by many and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
Visitation was Friday, May 10, at State College Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Centre County Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to State College Presbyterian Church or Penn State’s Pasto Agricultural Museum. FG
—From University of Kentucky news release
