SR 637 — Celebrating the life of Colonel Porcher L. Taylor, USA, Ret.

SPECIAL SESSION I INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24200323D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

637 NE Offered July 17, 2024 Celebrating the life of Colonel Porcher L––––––––––USA,L. Ret.

TTaylor, Patron––AirdUSA, RRet. –––––––––– WHEREAS, Colonel Porcher L.

Taylor,N USA,Agreed Ret.,to anby honorable and trailblazing veteran and O accomplished educator and education administrator who served his country in three major wars anD was a pillar of the PetersburgSenate, communityJuly for18, many2024 years,R diedO onWHEREAS, MayColonel 26,Porcher 2024;L.

Taylor, USA, Ret., an honorable and WHEREAS,trailblazing veteran and accomplished educator and education administrator who served his country in three major wars and was L a pWHEREAS, after working for some time as a typesetter and pressman alongside his father at Taylor L and Son Printing Company, Inc., in Jacksonville, Florida, Porcher Taylor joined the United States Navy E and served his country bravely in the Pacific Theater during World War II;

anddand the United StatCs Navy WHEREAS, following his service in the United States Navy, Porcher Taylor enrolled at the ED Tuskegee Institute, where he enlisted in the Tuskegee Institute Reserve Officers' Training Corps, a precursor to the famed Tuskegee Airmen, completing his training in 1949;

andandcers' DTraining Corps, a WHEREAS, Porcher Taylor ultimately served 25 years in the United States Army, fighting in the Korean War as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and later in the Vietnam War;

and WHEREAS, in 1971, Porcher Taylor notably became the first African American to be promoted to fulWHEREAS, in recognition of his exemplary service, Porcher Taylor was the recipient of several S military decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service R Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal, as well as the Brigadier General Noel F.

Parrish Award 7 from the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.;

and SR WHEREAS, Porcher Taylor achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America in h6s youth, and in 1994 he became the fourth Virginian to receive the prestigious Distinguished Eagl7Eagle Scout Award from the National Eagle Scout Association, the organization's highest honor;

and WHEREAS, Porcher Taylor earned a master's degree in counseling from Virginia State University in the early 1960s and in 1972 became one of the first two African Americans to earn a doctoral degree in psychologypsyWHEREAS, fromPorcher Taylor served as president for student affairs, director of counseling, and professor of military science and tactics at Virginia State University, contributing greatly to the Universitysuccess of Souththe Carolina;institution and its students;

and WHEREAS, Porcher Taylor servedgave asgenerously presidentof forhis studenttime affairs,through directorservice ofon counseling,dozens and professor of militaryboards science and tacticsin atrecognition Virginia State University, contributing greatly to the success of thehis institutioncharitable andefforts; its students;

andande WHEREAS,recipient Porcherof Taylormore gavethan generously300 ofcommendations hisand timeaccolades throughWHEREAS, serviceguided onthroughout dozenshis oflife boardsby andhis civicfaith, organizationsPorcher overTaylor theenjoyed yearsworship and wasfellowship thewith recipienthis ofcommunity moreat thanSt. 300 commendations and accolades :

35Stephen's Episcopal Church in WHEREAS,Petersburg guidedand throughoutchaired histhe lifeDowntown byChurches hisUnited faith,(DCU) PorcherWalk Against Hunger for 37 years, which was officially renamed the PT Taylor enjoyed- worshipDCU andWalk fellowshipAgainst 36Hunger within his2017 communityin athis St.honor;

Stephen'sand Episcopal Church in Petersburg and chaireddearly themissed Downtownby /his 37loving Churcheswife, UnitedAnn; (DCU) Walk Against Hunger for 37 years, which was officially renamed the PT Taylor / 38 - DCU Walk Against Hunger in 2017 in his honor;

and 39 WHEREAS, preceded in death by his daughter, Nolani, Porcher Taylor will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Ann;

now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Colonel Porcher L.

Taylor, USA, Ret., a treasured member of the Petersburg community whose selfless service andcherand unwaveringunwRESOLVED dedicationFURTHER, madeThat the Clerk of the Senate prepare a profoundcopy andof lastingthis impactresolution onfor countlesspresentation lives;to the family of Colonel Porcher L.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Colonel Porcher L.