Anne Nicol Gaylor and Paul J. Gaylor, former co-owners of the Middleton Times-Tribune, are being inducted together on the memorial pylon. Anne died June 14, 2015, at the age of 88. Paul preceded her in death in 2011 at the age of 84.
Anne was born in rural Tomah in 1926 and graduated from Tomah High School when she was 16 years old. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1949 with a degree in English. Paul was born in Springfield, Mo., in 1926. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and graduated from Drury College in 1948. He also did graduate work at the University of Kansas City.
Anne and Paul met in Kansas City, Mo., while Anne traveling for work. They were married on Dec. 29, 1949. They eventually settled in Madison and had four children. Anne opened the first temporary office help service in Madison in 1958, and with a partner, the city’s first private employment agency in 1959. After selling the successful business in 1966, Anne and Paul published the Middleton Times-Tribune for three years. Paul later served as vice president of a building maintenance company in Madison.
Anne was widely known for her role as a co-founder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which she created in 1976 with her daughter and a friend. She served as the Foundation’s “feisty president” until 2004. Paul served as a Freedom From Religion Foundation officer for many years and was still a board member at the time of his death.
Anne and Paul are survived by their children and two granddaughters.
