WILLIE TAYLOR
Nyack High School
Class of 1979
Willie Taylor showed glimpses of his sprinting promise as a sophomore at Nyack. When he was inserted into the 880-yard relay’s star-studded lineup late in the spring 1977 season, he did not fritter away his chance. Running the third leg with future Hall of Famers Jerry Blow, Shulton Whitley and Otto Pearson, Willie went from understudy to equal-billing stage performer. The Nyack quartet captured the Rockland County championship, won the Section 9 State Qualifier in Rockland and Section 9 record time, and placed second in the New York State championships.
Willie continued to blossom athletically the following year and culminated his career with a stellar senior year. Outdoors, he finished second in the State meet 200-meter dash in 22.1 seconds, helping Nyack finish second as a team. At the Rockland County championships, he swept the 100 (11.0) and 200 (22.0), ran on Nyack’s winning 880 relay (1:30.6), and earned meet co-MVP honors, pacing Nyack to the County meet title.
Powerful Curve Runner
Willie prided himself on all facets of his race, but his compact 5-foot-7 frame was especially effective running the curve. “Nobody runs the turn like Willie Taylor!” exclaimed meet announcer Tom Doherty on multiple occasions. Coach Joe McDowell, who mentored a bevy of fleet sprinters at Nyack, noted Willie’s “powerful, fluid stride” during his heyday in 1978-79.
At the Section 9 Class B meet, Willie sped to victory in the 200 (22.0), finished second in the 100 (11.0) and ran on the runner-up 800-meter relay, heavily contributing to Nyack’s team title. He also won the 220 yards at the Section 9 State Qualifier, took third in the Eastern States 220, was undefeated in dual meets, and earned first-team All-County laurels in both sprints and the relay.
During the indoor season, Willie swept the 60 yards (6.5) and 300 yards (33.3) at the Section 9 Class B meet and ran on the runner-up 880-yard relay. He also out-sprinted the field in the 55 meters (6.5) at the State Qualifier and anchored Nyack’s winning 800-meter relay, and went on to finish sixth at the State championships in the 60 yards (6.5).
As a junior, Willie won the outdoor State Qualifier 220 (22.3) and ran on the gold-medalist 880 relay (1:30.0). The foursome of Jerry Blow, Bill McCartin, Wescott Whitley and Willie went on to place third at the State championships in 1:29.6.
At the County meet that year, Willie finished second to teammate Jerry Blow in the 100 yards (10.0) and 220 yards (22.3), and at Sectionals he ran on the first-place 880 relay (1:30.8), placed second behind Blow in the 220 and third in the 100.
“I noticed early on that [Willie] had a superior work ethic, and only wanted to excel to the best of his abilities,” said Blow, who appreciated Willie’s welcoming ways when Jerry transferred to Nyack after having gone to Nanuet and Clarkstown South his first two years. “He was always a great teammate that inspired confidence from his teammates.”
Expanding His Repertoire at New Haven
Willie attended the University of New Haven, an NCAA Div. II program, on a full athletic scholarship. He was assisted in the selection and enrollment process by former Nyack teammate Otto Pearson, who preceded Willie by two years at New Haven and smoothed his transition to college and collegiate track. “He was an easy fit for the team in many ways,” said Otto, who still holds the school record in the 55 meters.
Willie made the All-New England team in the 55 meters his freshman year, and ran the 400-meter leg on the school-record distance medley relay, a record that still stands. As a junior, Willie was asked by Coach Bob Deobil to contribute a leg on the indoor 4x800 relay, and Willie responded with a swift 1:52 split in a home meet against the Coast Guard Academy. Coach Deobil also persuaded Willie to run cross country his senior year to improve his strength for the 400. The move paid off as Willie lowered his 400 time from 49 seconds to the low 48-second range. Willie served as team co-captain in both his junior and senior years.
Rewarding Career in Social Work
Willie graduated from New Haven with a degree in air transportation management and hoped to work in airport operations. When that didn’t work out, he was encouraged by his wife, Liz, to shift his career focus to social work. Willie had worked at Camp Venture during summers and found that he enjoyed making a positive impact in the lives of others. After moving to Connecticut, he earned a position as a social worker for the state’s Department of Children and Families. He retired in 2021 after a fulfilling 27-year career with the State of Connecticut. His dedicated efforts did not go unnoticed; he was honored as Social Worker of the Year in 2021 by the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families.
Although his sprinting career ended with his graduation from New Haven, Willie remained involved in the sport with a one-year stint as assistant track coach at Clarkstown South under head coach and good friend Jerry Blow.
Another Outlet for Competition: Bodybuilding
Willie channeled his competitive spirit in another direction starting in 1984. While working out at Premier Bodybuilding in Valley Cottage, he was approached by a friend from high school who co-owned the gym about getting into competitive bodybuilding. With his expenses covered by the gym as a sponsor, Willie surprised himself by winning his weight division at his debut event, the Mr. Westchester show at the County Center in White Plains. Two weeks later, he not only won his division, lightweight, but was proclaimed overall winner as “Mr. Rockland” for 1984.
Willie went on to win several other titles in the New York metro area and is most proud of his U.S. championship in the 1990 NPC (National Physique Committee) Junior USA show, which was televised nationally on ESPN. And his passion for bodybuilding has not waned. Willie plans to compete in the age 60-plus master's division in Texas, where he relocated with Liz last year, settling in Corpus Christi.
Willie, who is 62, and Liz have been married for 26 years. They have one son, Willie James Taylor II, age 25. Willie II married his high school sweetheart Kimberly in 2021.
Willie's individual Hall of Fame induction comes on the heels of his 2022 enshrinement with his teammates on the 1977 Nyack 880-yard relay. Each of the four relay members – Jerry Blow, Shulton Whitley, Willie Taylor and Otto Pearson – have now been honored both individually and as a relay unit.
Bravo, Nyack speedsters!
Willie continued to blossom athletically the following year and culminated his career with a stellar senior year. Outdoors, he finished second in the State meet 200-meter dash in 22.1 seconds, helping Nyack finish second as a team. At the Rockland County championships, he swept the 100 (11.0) and 200 (22.0), ran on Nyack’s winning 880 relay (1:30.6), and earned meet co-MVP honors, pacing Nyack to the County meet title.
Powerful Curve Runner
Willie prided himself on all facets of his race, but his compact 5-foot-7 frame was especially effective running the curve. “Nobody runs the turn like Willie Taylor!” exclaimed meet announcer Tom Doherty on multiple occasions. Coach Joe McDowell, who mentored a bevy of fleet sprinters at Nyack, noted Willie’s “powerful, fluid stride” during his heyday in 1978-79.
At the Section 9 Class B meet, Willie sped to victory in the 200 (22.0), finished second in the 100 (11.0) and ran on the runner-up 800-meter relay, heavily contributing to Nyack’s team title. He also won the 220 yards at the Section 9 State Qualifier, took third in the Eastern States 220, was undefeated in dual meets, and earned first-team All-County laurels in both sprints and the relay.
During the indoor season, Willie swept the 60 yards (6.5) and 300 yards (33.3) at the Section 9 Class B meet and ran on the runner-up 880-yard relay. He also out-sprinted the field in the 55 meters (6.5) at the State Qualifier and anchored Nyack’s winning 800-meter relay, and went on to finish sixth at the State championships in the 60 yards (6.5).
As a junior, Willie won the outdoor State Qualifier 220 (22.3) and ran on the gold-medalist 880 relay (1:30.0). The foursome of Jerry Blow, Bill McCartin, Wescott Whitley and Willie went on to place third at the State championships in 1:29.6.
At the County meet that year, Willie finished second to teammate Jerry Blow in the 100 yards (10.0) and 220 yards (22.3), and at Sectionals he ran on the first-place 880 relay (1:30.8), placed second behind Blow in the 220 and third in the 100.
“I noticed early on that [Willie] had a superior work ethic, and only wanted to excel to the best of his abilities,” said Blow, who appreciated Willie’s welcoming ways when Jerry transferred to Nyack after having gone to Nanuet and Clarkstown South his first two years. “He was always a great teammate that inspired confidence from his teammates.”
Expanding His Repertoire at New Haven
Willie attended the University of New Haven, an NCAA Div. II program, on a full athletic scholarship. He was assisted in the selection and enrollment process by former Nyack teammate Otto Pearson, who preceded Willie by two years at New Haven and smoothed his transition to college and collegiate track. “He was an easy fit for the team in many ways,” said Otto, who still holds the school record in the 55 meters.
Willie made the All-New England team in the 55 meters his freshman year, and ran the 400-meter leg on the school-record distance medley relay, a record that still stands. As a junior, Willie was asked by Coach Bob Deobil to contribute a leg on the indoor 4x800 relay, and Willie responded with a swift 1:52 split in a home meet against the Coast Guard Academy. Coach Deobil also persuaded Willie to run cross country his senior year to improve his strength for the 400. The move paid off as Willie lowered his 400 time from 49 seconds to the low 48-second range. Willie served as team co-captain in both his junior and senior years.
Rewarding Career in Social Work
Willie graduated from New Haven with a degree in air transportation management and hoped to work in airport operations. When that didn’t work out, he was encouraged by his wife, Liz, to shift his career focus to social work. Willie had worked at Camp Venture during summers and found that he enjoyed making a positive impact in the lives of others. After moving to Connecticut, he earned a position as a social worker for the state’s Department of Children and Families. He retired in 2021 after a fulfilling 27-year career with the State of Connecticut. His dedicated efforts did not go unnoticed; he was honored as Social Worker of the Year in 2021 by the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families.
Although his sprinting career ended with his graduation from New Haven, Willie remained involved in the sport with a one-year stint as assistant track coach at Clarkstown South under head coach and good friend Jerry Blow.
Another Outlet for Competition: Bodybuilding
Willie channeled his competitive spirit in another direction starting in 1984. While working out at Premier Bodybuilding in Valley Cottage, he was approached by a friend from high school who co-owned the gym about getting into competitive bodybuilding. With his expenses covered by the gym as a sponsor, Willie surprised himself by winning his weight division at his debut event, the Mr. Westchester show at the County Center in White Plains. Two weeks later, he not only won his division, lightweight, but was proclaimed overall winner as “Mr. Rockland” for 1984.
Willie went on to win several other titles in the New York metro area and is most proud of his U.S. championship in the 1990 NPC (National Physique Committee) Junior USA show, which was televised nationally on ESPN. And his passion for bodybuilding has not waned. Willie plans to compete in the age 60-plus master's division in Texas, where he relocated with Liz last year, settling in Corpus Christi.
Willie, who is 62, and Liz have been married for 26 years. They have one son, Willie James Taylor II, age 25. Willie II married his high school sweetheart Kimberly in 2021.
Willie's individual Hall of Fame induction comes on the heels of his 2022 enshrinement with his teammates on the 1977 Nyack 880-yard relay. Each of the four relay members – Jerry Blow, Shulton Whitley, Willie Taylor and Otto Pearson – have now been honored both individually and as a relay unit.
Bravo, Nyack speedsters!