Fred A. Taylor

1920 - 2013

Fred A. Taylor, 93, former TCU football coach and rancher, passed away Sunday, July 21, 2013, in Granbury. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Thursday at Granbury First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Neil Norman presiding. Private burial: 11 a.m. Thursday in Holly Hills Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wiley Funeral Home. Memorials: Granbury First United Methodist Church Building Fund, Box 70, Granbury, Texas 76048, or First Methodist Church of Iredell, Texas 76649. Fred was born in Gunter on April 30, 1920, to John S. and Edna Kyker Taylor. After being an all-around athlete at Denison High School, he enrolled at TCU and played football in 1940-1941. In 1941, he participated in the Orange Bowl Game and upon his return was immediately drafted into the Army where he served four years in the infantry. He was involved in the Aleutian Island Campaign for two years and the remaining years were spent in training troops for overseas duty. He returned to TCU in October 1945 and played the final four games. In 1946, he was an outstanding end, the team captain, and was named the Frogs' Most Valuable Player. He then played in the Blue-Gray Game in Montgomery, Ala. and was drafted for professional football by Pittsburgh. Passing up the pro offer, he returned to the campus as a student in 1947. That year he married his college sweetheart, Louise Armstrong, and finished the year helping as a varsity assistant. He received his BA degree in 1948 and joined the Lubbock High School coaching staff for three years. While in Lubbock, he obtained a master's degree from Texas Tech University. In 1951, he moved to Corpus Christi Miller High School as a varsity assistant, and in 1952 was head coach and athletic director at Victoria Welder High School. When Abe Martin was named head coach at TCU, Fred accepted the freshman coaching job in 1953 and during a 14-year period compiled a 38-28-4 won-lost record. In 1967 he was named head football coach and that year beat the University of Texas at Austin, a feat that took 45 years to match. In 1970, Fred moved to the TCU administrative staff and worked several years in student financial aid, use of facilities and administration of TCU real estate holdings, retiring in 1983 when he moved to Granbury and DeCordova Bend. He was inducted into the TCU Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2010, Fred was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Denison High School and as an outstanding athlete, was inducted into the Denison Sports Hall of Fame. He was awarded a special commemorative plaque in honor of the occasion. Since retiring, Fred has been active in ranching in Iredell at the Flat Broke Ranch, the place he loved the most. Fred was a member of the TCU Ex-Lettermen's Association, the Quinq Club of TCU, Granbury First United Methodist Church and the Fellowship Class, and a former 20-year member of Iredell First Methodist Church. Survivors: Wife of 65 years, Louise Taylor; nephews, Marion Taylor, George Taylor and Shane Taylor Cotter; nieces, Wanda McCreary, Cheryl Taylor, Cindy Nauert, Linda Ann King, Martha Kay Lang and Georgina Taylor; many great-nieces and great-nephews; a host of ex-football players; and many friends.