About Inductee

Jerry Taylor was born in Booneville, Mississippi, and moved to Zion, Illinois, in 1950. He grew up in Zion, graduating from Zion-Benton Township High School in 1968. During his high school years, Jerry played basketball, baseball and golf. In the fall of 1968, he entered Florence State University, where he majored in Physical Education. Jerry graduated from Florence State in 1973, with a B.A. in Physical Education, and took a job at Monrovia Junior High School as a teacher and coach. He stayed at Monrovia, coaching football, basketball and baseball from 1973 until 1980. During his time at Monrovia, Jerry has led his Boys' Basketball Team to the County Championship during the 1976-77 and 1978-79 seasons. In addition to teaching and coaching at Monrovia, Jerry earned his Masters Degree in School Administration and Supervision from Alabama A & M University in 1975. In 1980, he accepted a teaching and coaching position at Riverton Junior High School, where he continues in that role today. During Jerry's thirty-five year coaching career he has an impressive won-lost record of 1100 wins and 426 losses with his Eighth Grade Boys' and Girls' Teams. His 1998-99 Boys' Team won the County Championship and Coach Taylor's Girls' teams have won an impressive five County Championships. Coach Taylor has 43 players who are currently playing, or have played on the college level. Jerry received the Madison County Coach of The Year Award in 1977, 1979 and 1993. He was honored for his dedication to teaching and coaching by the Alabama House of Representatives in 1995 and 1996 by resolutions sponsored by Representative Randy Hinshaw. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Merit Award from the Alabama High School Athletic Association in 1993, by the Executive Director Dan Wasburn. Coach Taylor attributes his coaching success to his love of working with young student athletes, his strong family background and the positive influence of his parents, Prentiss and Eula Taylor, who emphasized hard work and dedication. At Florence State University, Jerry met and married Martha Stewart, his wife of 35 years. He has always had the support of his wife and family and the encouragement and support of his two brothers and two sisters during his thirty five years of coaching. Jerry and Martha Taylor have two sons and seven grandchildren; they are members of the Asbury United Methodist Church.