Douglas Graham Taylor was born on July 4, 1936 near Moffat, Saskatchewan to Robert and Isabella Taylor. Graham Taylor received his primary and secondary education at Candiac and Wolseley, Saskatchewan. Taylor earned a Bachelor of Education degree (1965) and a Diploma in Educational Administration (1972) from the University of Regina.
Prior to his entry into provincial politics, Taylor was a teacher in Kipling and Wolseley and was principal of Wolseley High School from 1967 to 1979. He served as President of the Indian Head-Broadview Teachers' Association and Indian Head Superintendency Principal Group. Taylor also operated a farm north of Wolseley.
Taylor was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1978 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Indian Head-Wolseley constituency until 1990. In 1979 Taylor ran unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan. After his defeat, he was appointed House Leader for the Official Opposition in the Legislature and served as Education Critic and Chairman of the Human and Social Resources Committee.
Taylor served in the Grant Devine Government as Minister of Health (1982-1986); Minister of Tourism and Small Business (1986-1987); Minister of Supply and Services (1986-1988); Minister of Tourism, Small Business and Co-operatives (1987-1988) and Minister of Public Participation (1988-1989).
Taylor was Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Commission (1982-1986); Saskatchewan Cancer Commission (1982-1984); Saskatchewan Cancer Foundation (1984-1986); Alcoholism Commission of Saskatchewan (1982-1985); Saskatchewan Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (1985-1986); Northern Affairs Secretariat (1986-1987); Liquor Board (1986-1989); Liquor Licensing Commission (1986-1989); Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation (1986-1989); Saskatchewan Government Printing Company (1986-1989); Saskatchewan Economic Development Corporation (1986-1988) and Saskatchewan Government Insurance (1988-1989).
Taylor resigned from Cabinet on October 3, 1989 to become Saskatchewan's Agent General in Hong Kong. He was dismissed from the post on November 22, 1991 when the NDP government closed all of the province's trade offices. Taylor did not seek re-election in the 1991 general election and Lorne Scott (NDP) became the MLA for the Indian Head-Wolseley constituency. He retired to his family farm near Wolseley. Taylor died in Wolseley on October 7, 2009.
Graham Taylor married Katherine Isabel Garden on October 3, 1959. They had five children: Robert, Katherine, Anthony (deceased); Susan and Peter.