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W. Taylor Obituary
Dr. W. Clyde Taylor, Jr.
June 30, 1933 - April 29, 2023
Dr. W. Clyde Taylor was a lifelong educator born in Collettsville (Caldwell County), N.C. on June 30, 1933. He was the son of Walter Clyde Taylor and V Church Taylor. When he was five years old, his family moved to Salisbury in Rowan County, where he spent his childhood. During his time in Salisbury, he made many lifelong friends and even met his future wife.
With a passion for sports from an early age, Clyde played baseball on sandlots before moving on to more organized teams. He played baseball for Boyden High School, American Legion, Catawba College, and in a semi-professional league. Clyde was a dedicated fan of the Atlanta Braves and even played for the Army Regimental team during his time in the military.
Clyde attended Catawba College where he earned a double major in history and physical education in 1954. Despite his initial interest in athletics, teaching ran in the family. Upon graduation from Catawba, he pursued coaching and teaching in Gastonia for two years. His plans to return to graduate school were interrupted when he was drafted into the US Army and stationed at Fort Jackson as a classification interviewer. Clyde received an honorable discharge from the military and then moved to Chapel Hill to pursue higher education. Clyde went on to earn a master's degree in physical education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959 and a Ph.D. in physical education, counseling, and school administration with a minor in sociology in 1961.
In 1960, Clyde began his career in Hickory Public Schools as the Director of Guidance and Special Services. He later joined Lenoir-Rhyne College as a professor of education in 1962 and assumed the position of chairman of the Department of Education in 1966. During his tenure, he was named the director of teacher education. He established the master's degree program in counselor education as well as a program for non-traditional students in the evening. He worked as a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Appalachian State University. Later in his career, he served in many educational leadership positions in NC including President of the NC Association of Colleges of Teacher Education and accreditor for the State Board of Education and Southern Association at colleges and universities across the state.
Throughout his career, Clyde was active in community affairs, serving as president of the Hickory Rotary Club, president of the Catawba Valley Executives Club, treasurer and president of the Hickory Family Guidance Center, a director of the Catawba County Mental Health Authority and the Hickory United Fund, and chairman of the Education Committee of the Hickory Chamber of Commerce. In 1966, he was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America.
Clyde was a long-term member of HTLC, serving as a Church Council member, Sunday school teacher, usher, and lay reader. He also told the LR story at Lutheran churches across the state.
After a long and successful career, Clyde retired from Lenoir-Rhyne College in May 1997 as Professor Emeritus. He was known by his colleagues and friends as a true Southern gentleman and a Renaissance man, always approachable, friendly, and engaging. Throughout his life, Clyde was an avid reader, a long-time friend of the library, and a supporter of the arts. He was also a bridge aficionado and a skilled player.He was an LRU sports fanatic. He had a passion for travel, visiting all 50 states as well as every corner of the globe. He also enjoyed a quick game of golf with his wife or friends. A highlight of Clyde's career was being selected to go on a US government-sponsored short sabbatical to Egypt to study the Egyptian educational system.
Clyde passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023, with his loving family by his side. He leaves behind a legacy of service and dedication to education and community. He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Mary Catherine, his daughter Melinda of Raleigh, and grandson Nicholas. Clyde was predeceased by sister Annie Laurie Young and brother-in-law H.D. Young. The family would like to extend their special thanks to all the staff at Trinity Ridge, Brookdale Falling Creek, Frye Regional Medical Center, and many other Hickory physicians and nurses.
The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor's Richard Graf and Chris Webb officiating. The family will receive friends prior from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
On-line condolences may be left at www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home & Crematory in Hickory is serving the family of Dr. W. Clyde Taylor.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home
334 2nd St. N.W. Hickory, NC 28601
June 30, 1933 - April 29, 2023
Dr. W. Clyde Taylor was a lifelong educator born in Collettsville (Caldwell County), N.C. on June 30, 1933. He was the son of Walter Clyde Taylor and V Church Taylor. When he was five years old, his family moved to Salisbury in Rowan County, where he spent his childhood. During his time in Salisbury, he made many lifelong friends and even met his future wife.
With a passion for sports from an early age, Clyde played baseball on sandlots before moving on to more organized teams. He played baseball for Boyden High School, American Legion, Catawba College, and in a semi-professional league. Clyde was a dedicated fan of the Atlanta Braves and even played for the Army Regimental team during his time in the military.
Clyde attended Catawba College where he earned a double major in history and physical education in 1954. Despite his initial interest in athletics, teaching ran in the family. Upon graduation from Catawba, he pursued coaching and teaching in Gastonia for two years. His plans to return to graduate school were interrupted when he was drafted into the US Army and stationed at Fort Jackson as a classification interviewer. Clyde received an honorable discharge from the military and then moved to Chapel Hill to pursue higher education. Clyde went on to earn a master's degree in physical education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959 and a Ph.D. in physical education, counseling, and school administration with a minor in sociology in 1961.
In 1960, Clyde began his career in Hickory Public Schools as the Director of Guidance and Special Services. He later joined Lenoir-Rhyne College as a professor of education in 1962 and assumed the position of chairman of the Department of Education in 1966. During his tenure, he was named the director of teacher education. He established the master's degree program in counselor education as well as a program for non-traditional students in the evening. He worked as a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Appalachian State University. Later in his career, he served in many educational leadership positions in NC including President of the NC Association of Colleges of Teacher Education and accreditor for the State Board of Education and Southern Association at colleges and universities across the state.
Throughout his career, Clyde was active in community affairs, serving as president of the Hickory Rotary Club, president of the Catawba Valley Executives Club, treasurer and president of the Hickory Family Guidance Center, a director of the Catawba County Mental Health Authority and the Hickory United Fund, and chairman of the Education Committee of the Hickory Chamber of Commerce. In 1966, he was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America.
Clyde was a long-term member of HTLC, serving as a Church Council member, Sunday school teacher, usher, and lay reader. He also told the LR story at Lutheran churches across the state.
After a long and successful career, Clyde retired from Lenoir-Rhyne College in May 1997 as Professor Emeritus. He was known by his colleagues and friends as a true Southern gentleman and a Renaissance man, always approachable, friendly, and engaging. Throughout his life, Clyde was an avid reader, a long-time friend of the library, and a supporter of the arts. He was also a bridge aficionado and a skilled player.He was an LRU sports fanatic. He had a passion for travel, visiting all 50 states as well as every corner of the globe. He also enjoyed a quick game of golf with his wife or friends. A highlight of Clyde's career was being selected to go on a US government-sponsored short sabbatical to Egypt to study the Egyptian educational system.
Clyde passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023, with his loving family by his side. He leaves behind a legacy of service and dedication to education and community. He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Mary Catherine, his daughter Melinda of Raleigh, and grandson Nicholas. Clyde was predeceased by sister Annie Laurie Young and brother-in-law H.D. Young. The family would like to extend their special thanks to all the staff at Trinity Ridge, Brookdale Falling Creek, Frye Regional Medical Center, and many other Hickory physicians and nurses.
The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor's Richard Graf and Chris Webb officiating. The family will receive friends prior from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
On-line condolences may be left at www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home & Crematory in Hickory is serving the family of Dr. W. Clyde Taylor.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home
334 2nd St. N.W. Hickory, NC 28601
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Hickory Daily Record on May 3, 2023.
Memories and Condolences
for W. Taylor
Sponsored by Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory - Hickory.
1 Entry
Ann and Farrell Brown
May 26, 2023
A friend of many years, we grieve your loss. Prayers to Mary Catherine and Melinda.
Lovingly, Ann and Farrell
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