Ronald H. Taylor

by

Gary Smith

In 1998, I was hired to coach the baseball team at New Bern High School. When I moved here, the only person I knew was my wife. Within a week of my hiring, I was working on the baseball field, and a gentleman approached me and began telling me the history of baseball in New Bern from the origination of the Sunday School League on up to the high school program. He also informed me of how pleased he was that I had been hired. I wasn’t sure, at the time, why he had decided to share all that information with me, but that was my introduction to Ron Taylor. It was also the start of a seventeen- year friendship.

First impressions tend to stay with you and mine were probably like most peoples. Ron had the ability to announce his presence with authority. You immediately noticed his physical stature. But, it was “the voice,” ah yes, “the voice.” The deep booming way in which he conversed could capture an audience. We talk about the southern drawl… Ron had more of a Midwest growl.

Soon after our initial introduction, Ron informed me that he was the Athletic Director for the New Bern American Legion Team, and I would be coaching that team as well. So now, Mr. Baseball Historian was going to be my boss. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to coach that team, but as you know, Ron was a tough guy to say no to.

It was a great partnership. Ron let me handle all the on-the-field stuff, while he handled all the stuff necessary to keep our program running. He raised money, sold tickets, and even made popcorn. It was here where I witnessed Ron’s passion for baseball. His joy for the game, the field, and the players rivaled my own. He reveled in the victories and was distraught over the losses. Ron put many miles on his vehicle to go to away games to cheer us on and make sure we had what we needed.

I’m sure many people who met Ron never saw him as I did. They never got a chance to see who he really was. I’m sure people were put off by the gruff exterior, but under that was the real Ron. I’m sure people couldn’t handle the honesty… the brutal honesty. With Ron, there were no gray areas. It was black and white/right and wrong, and he had no problem letting you know where you stood on that spectrum. It was a character trait I had the utmost respect for.

The thing most people never got about Ron was the only thing bigger than his voice was his heart. When we first started working together, he made sure all of our players had meal money after our games. I told him, “Ron, this isn’t 1972. These kids have money. Your money is paying for their beer.” But, he was so afraid that there might be one kid who couldn’t afford food, the practice continued for many years.

Stories were told to me of how in the early days of New Bern baseball, there were kids who wanted to play but couldn’t afford cleats, gloves, whatever. Ron found a way to provide equipment for those kids. I’m betting; he paid out of his pocket.

See, nothing Ron did was half way. He dove in head first from the first class way he ran our baseball program to his love of Bible study.

His love for Kelly and Ryan was the same way. There was a time when I had Kelly’s academic schedule memorized in her quest for a Master’s Degree. I knew every plane Ryan advanced to and many times his flight plan as well. I’m sure there were times he embarrassed you, but that’s what dad’s do. I hope you realize how happy your success made him.

He was a grandfather figure to my own children. He always had a smile for them and would come by the house at Christmas to bring them presents.

In 2002, Ron nominated me for the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. It was an honor I did not feel deserving of, and I let Ron know that. But again… Ron was a tough guy to say no to. So, I joined Ron as a member of the Hall of Fame. The pride he felt for us being part of that elite group was evident as he sat in the audience that night. I consider it one of my greatest honors in my career, and I owe it all to Ron.

They say grief is the most selfish of emotions, and it hurts my heart to be here today. But, I think we should all be a little selfish today, because the way Ron touched me, us, this community cannot be replaced. See, Ron was a man, a real man, a man’s man. He was honest and kind. He was a patriot, a veteran, a true American. He was John Wayne, larger than life, and not just about baseball. He was smart, caring, funny, and humble. But more than anything, he was a giver - always looking to help the other guy. He was a husband, a father, and my friend.

To the Taylor family, thank you for giving me the honor of talking about my friend for a few minutes. You have no idea what he meant to me, my career and my family, and my heart goes out to you all.

Ron, I hope where you are the grass is green and plush. I hope the dirt is red and smooth. A place with no rainouts and no bad umpires, and I hope all of your players can hit. RIP my friend. Thank you.

God Bless You All

~

Once a Marine, Always a Marine. A Marine Comes Home.

Authored by John Delise

Few earn the title United States Marine. Once earned, the rest of their life they are a Marine. A Marine on active duty, a Marine Reserve, a retired Marine, or as is most common, a Marine who served his country and returned to civilian life as a Marine on-demand, whose skills if needed, are always ready.

A Marine on demand enjoys all the pleasures of the freedom earned through service and blood of all his fellow Marines who have served. They have earned this; they live life free and proud and to the fullest. They know this respite is short. For in the fullness of time death, comes for them as it does for all.

Their honor clean, they stand before the pearly gates of Heaven and read a simple, unadorned sign with two arrows on it, one pointing left that says, “This way to Eternal Peace.” The other pointing to the right says, “Marines.”

The Marine turns to the right and up a steep path, the temperature ever increasing, until he sees a Quonset hut. He opens the door and steps inside. He crosses to a small table, behind which two Marines stand. Colonel Lewis B. Puller nods his head, and Sergeant Major Dan Daly places a paper on the table before you and holds a quill pen out above a small bottle of black red ink. No word need be spoken. As you take the pen and dip it into the bottle, the label on the bottle is clearly visible, “The price of freedom is paid in blood.”

Your signature smokes as it is written, burning the paper without damaging it. Your heavenly robes fade to be replaced by standard issue; the firm fit of your cover brings a wry smile to your lips. You snap to attention and salute, a salute that is as crisply returned. A right face and the rear door of the hut beckons, and as you step out, the yellow footprints meet your feet as you muster as part of a new platoon that soon will be ready to join the USMC Devil Dog Division, Camp Glory, MCRD.

Your purpose clear, the mission to fight the forces of evil for all eternity, Always Faithful, under orders from the ultimate Commander-in-Chief, God Almighty! It’s good to be home.

* * * * * * * * * *

Ronald H. Taylor, 70, of New Bern, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC.

Mr. Taylor was the son of the late Warren and Madge Taylor. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps for 10 ½ years as a crew chief on the CH46 and CH53 helicopters, until he was medically retired due to an injury in Vietnam.

After retirement, he became very active in the local community. He was a member of Grantham Masonic Lodge, a Shriner and Commander of American Legion Post 24 in New Bern. He served as a volunteer fireman and fire commissioner for Township Seven Fire Department for many years. He was a Sunday School director and teacher at Temple Baptist Church where he was a member for over 35 years. As a member of the Shrine, he volunteered his time to take children to the Shriners Hospital for Children in South Carolina. He organized a Skate-A-Thon and Bike-A-Thon for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising more money than any other St. Jude Children’s fund raiser at the time. He was on the Board of Directors for New Bern Babe Ruth Baseball. After Hurricane Hugo devastated Charleston, SC, Mr. Taylor organized a Hurricane Hugo Relief Effort, which generated so many donated items that two to three tractor trailers a day went to Charleston with donated items from food and clothes to water and ice. He was instrumental in bringing American Legion Baseball back to New Bern, and helped raise money and materials to build Boykin Field at New Bern High School resulting in his induction into the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. He served as the Athletic Director of the American Legion Baseball in New Bern. Many times, he bought baseball shoes and equipment for young boys who could not afford to play, he has paid college tuition for students who could not afford to go, and made sure that any child he knew without means would have a Christmas.

He loved to talk about the Marine Corps, especially his time spent as a crew chief on the helicopters. As fate would have it, a Marine assisted him at the scene of his fatal accident, and he was then airlifted by helicopter to Vidant Medical Center for his last flight.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters Betty Lily, Marlene Taylor and brother James Allen Taylor.

He is survived by his wife Linda; children Kelly and Ryan of New Bern. He is also survived by a daughter Jill and two grandchildren. In addition, survivors include brothers Jack (Lois) Taylor of Oakwood, IL, Gene (Lynn) Taylor of Charleston, IL, Jerry (Nan) Taylor of Longview, TX, Donald Taylor of Charleston, IL, Bernie (Becky) Taylor of Champaign, IL, and Allen (Marie) Taylor of Camargo, IL; sisters Barbara Bowman of Newman, IL, Edna Osborne of St. Joseph, IL, Kay (Rich) Carter of Charleston, IL, Bernadine (Jim) Andrews of Atwood, IL; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Flowers are welcome or donations may be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Sunday, August 23, 2015 at Cotten Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Saturday, August 22 at Cotten Funeral Home. Burial will follow the funeral service at Greenleaf Memorial Park.