Taylor Meloan, 83; Marketing Professor at USC School of Business

Taylor W. Meloan, 83, a former interim dean and professor of marketing at the USC Marshall School of Business, died Monday in Lake Forest, Calif., of respiratory complications from cancer.

A full-time member of the USC faculty for 32 years, Meloan came to the university as professor and head of the department of marketing, and served as interim dean of the business school from 1969 to 1972. He later served as associate vice president for academic administration and research.

“Meloan modernized the marketing curricula and recruited new faculty from throughout the nation,” said Randolph W. Westerfield, dean of the Marshall School of Business.

Meloan, a native of St. Louis, served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from St. Louis University, his master’s from Washington University and his doctorate from Indiana University.

Meloan resumed teaching and research in 1981, and remained at the Marshall School until his retirement. In 1997, he was designated Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Marketing.