Gary W. Taylor, a Memphis, Tenn., merchant, was elected president of Cotton Council International for 2005, moving up from first vice president. He was named during CCI's annual meeting at the National Cotton Council's annual meeting in Washington, D.C. CCI is NCC's export promotions arm.

Taylor, president and chief executive officer for Cargill Cotton Company, is a director of NCC and the American Cotton Shippers Association, of which he is a past president.

He also is a past director of the Southern Cotton Association and a founding board member of two Memphis firms, The Seam and EWR, Inc. Taylor succeeds Robert Norris, a cooperative official in Bakersfield, Calif., who becomes CCI board chairman.

Other CCI officers elected for 2005 are: first vice president David L. Burns, producer, Laurel Hill, N.C.; second vice president Michael M. Adams, cooperative official from Greenwood, Miss.; and treasurer, Robert S. Weil II, a Montgomery, Ala., merchant. Mark D. Lange of Memphis, Tenn., was re-elected secretary, and Allen A. Terhaar of Washington, D.C., was re-elected assistant secretary.

CCI elected two new directors for 2005 — John Burch, cooperative official, Bakersfield, Calif.; and Richard Kelley, producer, Burlison, Tenn.