The Clerk: My Thirty Six Years

Peppered with personal and family anecdotes, Cody Taylor’s memoir, The Clerk, highlights his career as the longest-serving public official in Holmes County history. Spanning more than thirty-six years and nine successful elections, Taylor’s book offers a unique perspective on the changing political landscape in the local area.

A lifetime resident of Holmes County, Florida, Taylor spent his early years in the care of his grandparents after the breakup of his family. After a successful high school and college basketball career, Taylor decided to try his hand at politics and ran his first campaign for public office.

Taylor recounts details of his position as Clerk of the Circuit Court, including some of the most interesting county and circuit court cases as well as many of the responsibilities mandated by his office. Through the course of his tenure, Taylor worked with state and local government on behalf of the citizens in Holmes County, including enhancing the technology used by Florida clerks.

The Clerk gives readers a glimpse into the daily life of an elected public official in rural Florida. Throughout the text, Taylor offers his observations about life as a circuit court clerk and in America during his years in office.

Cody Taylor is the longest-serving public official in the history of Holmes County, Florida, having served as the Clerk of the Circuit Court for thirty-six years. He has the unique perspective of having been witness to the history of Holmes County through the functions of the clerk’s office, including marrying over 750 couples.

A star high school basketball player and lifetime resident of Holmes County, Taylor is a graduate of Poplar Springs High School, Chipola Junior College, and the University of West Florida. He was elected to office nine times.