TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JUNE 2019 19
By Alaina Loughridge - Photo by Wen McNally
Y’all knew it was going to happen eventually, although you probably
cannot believe it, but June’s Bartender of the Month is none other than
J.T. of Huc-A-Poos. I can barely believe it myself and I’m the one that
made the phone call! I have worked with this joker and can say with
utmost honesty that there have been times where I seriously wanted to
walk away and never return, but J.T. talked me out of it. Dammit. J.T.
will do flat out anything for a friend and after you drop your jaw in horror
at whatever he just said, he will have you laughing out loud. Inside that
ferocious, hairy exterior is a big piece of goo. Well, that and numerous
f-bombs, finger pointing with the middle digit, dirty jokes and naked
women. Oh, and Jack Daniels. Lots of Jack Daniels.
Naturally, J.T. and I had to meet for this interview at Tybee Time where
we started and I know it’s irritating that I’m inserting myself in this story,
but it really is the best way to get to the bottom of this pain-in-the ass
guy. I really didn’t know his whole growing up story so we started there,
so here we go…
Jon H. Taylor was born and raised on Wilmington Island around the
turn of century. No. Not this new one. The other one before. Mom and
Dad raised him with his brother and sister and tried to do the best they
could with what they had. I asked J.T. about his schooling and he proudly
says he went to every school except B.C., Savannah High, and Savannah
Country Day. Well, I have to admit that is one hell of an accomplishment!
Clearly schooling wasn’t in his future and after he pissed everyone off
about it, he went to work with his dad doing underground construction
work. He did that for a solid 14 years before he hooked up with his
brother and started doing golf course construction. Traveling all over the
country for both jobs, J.T. has probably left more broken hearts than most
can claim. In 1997, he started his own gig, Jon H. Taylor Contracting, and
did that until 2011.
While his contracting career was going on, Jon got married to the love
of his life, Gina Howard, and had two beautiful girls. I mean, seriously
pretty girls, Madison Layne and Zayne Autumn. He has had his hairy
knuckles full keeping tabs on them, but they are his world and he is a
proud papa for sure!
In 2011 he got in the bar business doing the door, bar backing, security
(most effectively), and just in general knocking heads together when
necessary. In 2013, the Huc-A-Poos clan made a (yet to be determined)
judgment call and asked him to fill in bartending when necessary. They
quickly learned that J.T. was a trainable monkey, but must be kept on the
porch. His lack of social skills, crudeness, rudeness and just an overall
surly demeanor required him to be outside at all times. Zero filter. I mean
it.
Five years later and he is still going strong on the back porch and
loving life! He gives tons of credit and love to Eric and Heather Thomas
of Poo’s for teaching him adulting things - like mouth filters and other
important social skills. J.T. loves working on the porch and calls it his
‘television.’ Maybe now is the time to say he really isn’t a bartender, but
rather a person that tends the bar at one of the best places on the island.
I asked J.T. the most important Life questions and here are his
answers albeit without the swearing:
Tybee Life: Always and forever
Grow up: Grow up? What do you mean by that?
Spirit Animal: Godzilla. Because Godzilla does two things - sleep
and screw everything up!
J.T.’s go-to drink is Jack Daniels . Not much else one can expound on
about that. In all seriousness, J.T. is a loud mouthed, cussing Chewbacca
that can go either way on you. His sense of humor is gross, obnoxious
and will having you snorting Jack Daniels out of your nose. He’s loud
and proud. He will cut you dead if you say the wrong thing and if you say
the really wrong thing, you may end up in the hospital. Other than that,
he’s fun, entertaining, pours a wicked drink, smiles huge and means it
when he does it. You get some J.T. love and you will certainly go back for
more! He also gives away free hugs, but be careful with that. That could
go either way on you.