Robert Taylor

Because Eddie Hart and Rey Robinson failed to make the start of the second-round races in München, Robert Taylor, who had placed only third at the Final Trials, was the solitary U.S. finalist in the 1972 Olympic 100 m. Taylor finished one metre down on the Russian, Valery Borzov, and later won a gold medal when the U.S. posted a world record in the relay. His only other major title came in the 1972 AAU 100 m while he was a student at Texas Southern. Taylor was world ranked #2 in 1972 in the 100 and was #1 that year in the US. He was also world ranked #10 in the 100 in 1969, when he was ranked 5th in the US.

Taylor graduated from Texas Southern with a degree in education and spent 22 years as a special education teacher. was voted All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and NAIA All-American. He is a member of several Halls of Fame. In 1973 he was inducted into the Outstanding College Athletes Hall of Fame, in 1996 he was inducted into the Texas Southern University Hall of Fame, and in 2007 he was inducted into the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Southwestern Conference Hall of Fame. His son, Bobby Taylor, played 10 years in the NFL as a defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.

Personal Bests: 100y – 9.2 (1969); 100 – 10.16 (1972); 220y – 20.8 (1970).