Page 31 - JanuaryFebruary26 Report

m e m o r i a l s
Philip Taliaferro III
1937 – 2025
Philip Taliaferro III was an accom-
plished attorney, proud veteran,
dedicated public servant, and pillar of
the Northern Kentucky community. He
passed away peacefully on Monday, May
26, at his home, surrounded by his chil-
dren. Phil deeply believed in serving his country, his community,
and the people who relied on him. He was a U.S. Navy veteran
who served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps during the
Vietnam War. While stationed in the Philippines in the 1960s, he
was named an Honorary Marine Officer of the Day for his leader-
ship during a large-scale disturbance at Subic Bay Naval Base. In
recognition of his lifelong dedication to veterans, he was inducted
into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame in 2023. Phil was a loyal
and enthusiastic supporter of each of his alma maters. He gradu-
ated from Lloyd Memorial High School and Centre College, where
he also played football. He then earned his law degree from the
University of Kentucky College of Law. Phil will be remembered
for his brilliant legal mind, dramatic trial skills, keen intuition,
and quick wit. He was admitted to the Kentucky Bar Association
in 1962. He practiced law in Northern Kentucky and Southern
Ohio for nearly six decades, earning a reputation as one of the
hardest-working and most formidable attorneys in the region.
He fought tirelessly for his clients, often taking on and winning
complex and precedent-setting cases. Phil’s prowess in the court-
room earned him numerous accolades and awards, including the
first Distinguished Service Award from the Northern Kentucky
Bar Association, the Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year Award
from the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, and the desig-
nation as a Fellow with the International Academy of Trial
Attorneys. Phil had a fierce sense of justice and an unwavering
belief in the power of public service. His commitment extended
beyond the courtroom, serving as a trusted advisor to Kentucky
governors: Happy Chandler, Julian Carroll, John Y. Brown, and
Martha Layne Collins, as well as to U.S. Senator and Governor
Wendell Ford. He also advised his brother-in-law, former Cincin-
nati Mayor and U.S. Congressman David Mann. Appointed by
three governors, Phil chaired the Kentucky Personnel Board and
served as a Trustee of Northern Kentucky University. In 1984,
Phil received a Covington Restoration Award for his renovations
of the Daniel Carter Beard Home, one of Northern Kentucky’s
two National Historic Landmarks. Purchasing the home marked
the beginning of Phil’s passion and advocacy for the Boy Scouts
of America. Phil spearheaded the development of the Boy Scout
Plaza, where a bronze statue of Daniel Beard is now a main-
stay along the Dan Beard Council River Walk. Phil also played
a key role in shaping Cincinnati’s 1988 bicentennial celebra-
tion as a member of its executive committee, where he ensured
that Northern Kentucky was fully represented. His leadership,
creativity, and tireless fundraising helped leave a lasting legacy
for the entire region. Whether eating out at his favorite restau-
rants, Walt’s Hitching Post or Sake Bomb, attending services at
Erlanger Baptist Church, or sharing his life-changing experiences
on the Emmaus Walk, Phil demonstrated an uncanny ability to
connect with people, making innumerable friends wherever he
traveled in the world. Guided by his example, Phil’s children have
pursued careers devoted to service and have carried his passion
for learning and travel into the world. He is survived by his daugh-
ters Gina Taliaferro Lofquist of Cincinnati, OH; Laura Conant
(Rod) of Toledo, OH; Morgan Taliaferro of Ludlow, KY; and his
son Philip Taliaferro IV (Caroline) of Cincinnati, OH; grandchil-
dren Jonathan Lofquist (Marissa), Sarah Lofquist (Adam), and
Sydney Lofquist of Melbourne, Australia; Mitchell Conant of
Toledo, OH; and great-granddaughters Thea Lofquist and Avery
Bauman, both of Cincinnati, OH. He is also survived by his sister,
Betsy Mann (David), of Cincinnati, OH. He was preceded in death
by his beloved son, Dr. Gregory Taliaferro, and by his parents,
Shirley and Philip Taliaferro.
— David Mann
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