Five years after surviving a serious car accident, former North Dallas Chamber of Commerce president Steve Taylor died Monday as the result of a major stroke.

Taylor had just turned 70 years old. He led the North Dallas chamber — who posted the statement below to Facebook today — for more than two decades.

“He was dedicated to the chamber profession, and he was dedicated to the members of this particular chamber,” says Carol Asel Short, senior vice president of public affairs. “He was a fair boss. He had a strong work ethic himself, and he appreciated employees who shared that. But he loved his off time. He played golf twice a week, no matter how hot it was or how cold it was. He was going to be at the golf course every Saturday and Sunday without fail.”

The longtime North Dallas resident was born in Washington D.C., she says, but lived in several states before earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Cornell University.

Taylor joined the Air Force in 1969 and became an air traffic controller in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He received the Bronze Star for his service, Short says.

When his military career came to a close, Taylor attended graduate school at the University of South Florida for his master of business administration. He then worked for chambers in Houston, Tampa and Hartford before coming to Dallas in 1985.

He was president of the organization from 1986-2011, when he had a hemorrhagic stroke while driving. The injuries halted his career, but he left a lasting impression on the local business community.

“Tributes have been pouring in all day from former chairmen of the chamber, board members and the chamber at large, and all of them have been unanimous in their praise and loving thoughts about Steve,” Short says.