Hear from the first Gary J. Taylor Scholarship recipient.
Gary Jerome Taylor’s outgoing and helpful nature was ever radiant throughout his life. Born and raised in Portageville, MO Gary enrolled at MU after an active high school life and Columbia became his home for the next 33 years. Gary forged the most amazing friendships in Columbia through affiliations with Marching Mizzou, Residence Halls Association, Summer Welcome Program, Cougar Brass Band, Urban Empowerment Ministries, and employers Job Point & MBS Textbook Exchange. In recent years, Gary served as the volunteer director of the Marching Mizzou Alumni Band. Gary died unexpectedly on December 1, 2016 at the age of 51.
Gary left an indelible mark on those who knew and loved him. A gift to Gary’s scholarship fund will continue to honor Gary’s practice of ensuring the lives he touched were changed for the better. This scholarship will be awarded to a current Marching Mizzou student annually once endowed.