Noel Calvin Taylor (15 July 1924–29 October 1999) was the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia from 1975 to 1992. He was widely considered one of the most influential leaders in the city's history.
Prior to becoming mayor, he was a leader in Roanoke's African American community and helped facilitate the city's peaceful desegregation in the late 1960s. A Republican, he was elected mayor in 1976, after having been appointed to complete the term of Roy L. Webber after his death in 1975. His lengthy tenure saw many changes in Roanoke such as the revitalization of the downtown city market area and the opening of Valley View Mall.
Taylor was pastor of High Street Baptist Church in the northwest section of Roanoke from 1961 until his death in 1999.
Roanoke's city hall, the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, and the Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy, a combined middle school and high school, were all named in his honor.
| Preceded by Roy L. Webber |
Roanoke, Virginia Mayor 1975-1992 |
Succeeded by David A. Bowers |
Famous quotes containing the words noel and/or taylor:
“Even innocence itself has many a wile,
And will not dare to trust itself with truth,
And love is taught hypocrisy from youth.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Make me thy Loome: thy Grace the warfe therein,
My duties Woofe, and let thy word winde Quills.
The shuttle shoot. Cut off the ends my sins.
Thy Ordinances make my fulling mills,
My Life thy Web: and cloath me all my dayes
With this Gold-web of Glory to thy praise.”
—Edward Taylor (1645–1729)