Recently, the Kannapolis City Council renamed East C Street to Milton Taylor Street in honor of the late Mr. Milton Taylor. Renaming the street serves as a tribute to Mr. Taylor’s legacy, ensuring future generations will remember his dedication and support to the City of Kannapolis.
Mr. Taylor was an influential educator and leader in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. After completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he began his career as a teacher and coach. In 1965, he became the first African American principal of George Washington Carver School which would later become Kannapolis Middle School.
Playing a significant role in the integration of Kannapolis schools, Mr. Taylor worked to create an inclusive and student-centered learning environment. He believed “one of the best ways to get to know children is to do things with them”. His contributions did not stop there, after his retirement, he continued to support students in math and science as one of the founding members of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network.
In addition to his influence in education, Taylor was deeply involved in civic activities throughout Cabarrus and Rowan Counties. He was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for Kannapolis City Schools and received a Presidential Citation from North Carolina A&T State University. He served on the Board of Directors for a number of organizations, holding leadership positions in many cases, including the South Rowan Optimist Club (President), the South Rowan Community Service Council (Vice-President), the Cannon Memorial YMCA (President), the Kannapolis Rotary Club (President), the Cabarrus County American Red Cross, the Bible Teaching Association, Cabarrus County Meals on Wheels, Cabarrus County HelpLine, Inc., Cabarrus Workshop (President), Kannapolis Crime Stoppers, the Fesperman’s “Y” Men Club (president), Barber-Scotia College Unit of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and the Kannapolis Student Loan, Inc.
Mr. Taylor also served on the steering committees for Leadership Kannapolis, the George Shinn Golf Classic, the Fieldcrest Cannon Foundation Scholarships, and the Kannapolis City Schools’ Teacher of the Year Committee. He also served as the Chairman of the Northern Piedmont Cluster YMCA.
By 1997, Taylor had received an abundance of accolades for his service to the community. He was featured in the “Personalities of the South”, a biographical listing of individuals selected for national, state, and community leadership. He also received the United Negro College Fund’s Distinguished Service Award. He received the Association of Citizen’s Educator of the Year Award, and the YMCA Southeastern Distinguished Service Award, the Cannon Memorial YMCA Board’s Director of the Year Award, the YMCA of the USA South Field Distinguished Leadership, the YMCA Northern Piedmont Cluster Hall of Fame Award, and the Distinguished Rotarian Award and Induction into the Kannapolis African American Museum and Cultural Center Legacy Hall of Fame.
Taylor was also a trustee for Sandy Ride AME Zion Church and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and he received the “Man of the Year” award in 1978, 1984 and 1992. Taylor served as the first African American Lieutenant Governor for Kannapolis Rotary Club District, where he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award