Olympic Gold Medalist
Robert Taylor Dies
Posted November 15th, 2007 at 8:30 PM by Martin Kennedy
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
According to the Associated Press, two-time Olympic medalist Robert Taylor died Tuesday at a hospital in Missouri City, Texas, after becoming ill Monday at the school where he was a teacher. He was 59.
One of the finest sprinters of his era, Taylor won a gold medal in the 4×100m relay and a silver medal in the 100 meters at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.
“Robert had one of the greatest personalities,” friend Terry Henson of Tyler, Texas, told the Tyler Morning Telegraph. “His ability as an athlete was unmatched. He never really got his just due on how great an athlete he really was.”
Porter Robinson, who helped coach Taylor at Texas Southern, told The Associated Press that Taylor had “great, great talent.”
At one point during his athletic career Taylor tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. Although he never made the team, his son Bobby played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks.
In addition to his wife, son and sister, Taylor is survived by another son, Jonathan, and daughter Cecilee, both of Houston, and three brothers, Peter, Elvin and Arthur Taylor, all of Tyler.
A wake was planned Sunday in Houston, with the funeral set for Monday.
Written by: Tom Surber
Via: USA Track & Field
PHOTO: Robert Taylor at at the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association Hall of Fame Banquet in July 2007 (Via: Tyler Morning Telegraph)
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Tags: 100m, 197s olympic games, 4x100m relay, assocaited press, bobby taylor, die, died, football, gold medalist, houston, kansas cicty chiefs, munich, NFL, olympic gold medalist, olympic medalist, pass away, Philadelphia Eagles, porter robinsopn, robert taylor, Seattle Seahawks, silver medalist, terry henson, texas, texas soputher university, tyler morning telegraph
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The Final Sprint
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November 15th, 2007 at 8:49 pmMy spirits sank when I heard the news, that a great American Icon had died. With his pride and outstretched fist he gave strength to a new generation of Black American. A Group of Americans that are now community, government, and family leaders standing tall and proud to be who they are. Knowing that one person can impact the thoughts of an entire Nation and the world.
For this I give thanks to the Lord for giving me the chance to be alive during that period and also getting to know and meet Mr Taylor’s family member that are dear to all of us.
I did not see America pause and give this important American the dues he deserved, but for “Thee Never The Less We Sing” America. Step down off your throen of importance and recognize your son that helped make you come a little closter to what you should aspire to be.
To the family and friends of Mr Taylor his pride has carried us a long way. Keep up the good fight for you have kept the faith and won many battles. Our journey is a lot shorter than it was years ago, but our objective are the same, “to be strong and blaze a path wide enough for others to follow.
God Bless You All
November 25th, 2007 at 3:32 pm