Endowed Scholarship Fund - Football

COL. POWELL H. TAYLOR '38
FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP
Represented by Mrs. Powell H. Taylor of Norfolk, Virginia.

"Boots" Taylor '38
 

The late Col. Powell H. Taylor '38 established this scholarship in 2001 to honor the memory of his father, Walter Herron Taylor III, VMI Class of 1892.  The Scholarship provides grant-in-aid to a football athlete.

Walter Taylor matriculated at VMI from Norfolk, Virginia, and was a Distinguished Graduate with a BS degree in civil engineering. He retired as director of Public Works after 55 years of service.

As a cadet, Taylor was captain of the VMI football team and in 1978 was honored with a special citation by the VMI Hall of Fame for being the founder of football at VMI. 

Like his father, Powell Harrison Taylor, also matriculated from Norfolk, and graduated with the Class of 1938 from VMI with a degree in civil engineering.

“Boots” Taylor, as he was known by his fellow cadets, was an outstanding tennis athlete, playing throughout his cadetship and lettering both his 2nd and 1st class years at VMI. Taylor was captain of the squad his 1st class year, was ranked #1 on the team, and led the Keydets to an 8-3 record. Under his leadership, the Tennis Team enjoyed its best overall winning percentage ever— .727. During that historic season, Taylor only lost two matches, making the Southern Conference semifinals in doubles that year. 

For his accomplishments as a cadet-athlete, Taylor was inducted into the VMI Sports Hall-of-Fame in 1976. He is the only VMI tennis player to be so honored, as of the date of this memorandum.

After graduation, Taylor had a distinguished career with the United States Air Force, serving 28 years and attaining the rank of Colonel.  He served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, and two Air Force Commendation Medals. He continued his love for tennis as an officer, winning the Outstanding Sportsmanship Award of the year while stationed in Japan in 1951. For this honor, he received a silver loving cup, which he donated to the VMI Athletic Department in 1989. It is now the symbol of the Powell Taylor ’38 Tennis Player-of-the-Year Award at VMI.

After completing his military career, he became engineer in charge of construction for the Public Works Department with the City of Norfolk, retiring in 1979. In 1988, the U.S. Tennis Association ranked Taylor #1 in the nation in Men’s 70 Singles. Also in 1988, he won two super seniors national tennis tournaments.

Taylor held the distinction of having a rich family association with VMI, spanning over 128 years. His VMI relatives in addition to his father, W.H. Taylor III, VMI Class of 1892, included his grandfather, Walter Herron Taylor, VMI Class of 1857; and his son, Stuart Saunders Taylor, VMI Class of 1985.

Taylor died on June 28, 2004.