Barry P. Taylor Sr.
Inducted 2024
Barry Taylor was destined for greatness. After all, his Dad, Coach Walter Taylor, and brothers Pete and Keith Taylor were all great athletes, so all Barry had to do was show up, and he would be crowned a superstar. In some people’s minds, that’s the way they see it, but the way a true athlete from a proven family sees it is they have to work harder than all the others to uphold and surpass the expectations. Barry Taylor put in the hard work day-in and day-out and accomplished his mission to become one of the best two-sport athletes in Waycross High School’s history. The Taylor sports legacy in Waycross and Ware County is legendary, and Barry Taylor joins his father and brothers in the Sports Hall of Fame, not because of his name, but because of his tremendous work ethic and his drive to be one of the best in all he did.
Barry, like most athletes back in the day, participated throughout his elementary years in the recreation leagues. Barry said he received great coaching from the start from some of the all-time greats: DJ Brown, Joe Seagrest, Everett Saunders, Harry Boyd, Theodore Johnson, Tate Boyd, and Coach Swinson. Barry credits his youth coaches with setting the tone for his success early on. He starred on numerous Waycross football and baseball All-Star teams in the recreation leagues and represented Ware County in the Regional Punt, Pass, and Kick youth competition held in Jacksonville, Florida.
Barry had a great start to his athletic career in the recreation league, but the fine-tuning occurred during his high school days under the tutelage of baseball coach Rusty Ganas and his Dad, Coach Walter Taylor, Sr. Barry credited Coach Dale Williams,Coach Leroy Herring, and Coach E.B. Price with developing his work ethic and discipline while playing football. As you may know, most if not all of Barry’s coaches are in the Sports Hall of Fame already. Barry took advantage of these fine coaches and used what each one of them offered to become one of the best athletes!
After a successful junior high career, it was Barry’s time to shine! He was the starting quarterback for the Waycross Bulldogs for the 1978-1979 and the 1979-1980 seasons. Barry took full advantage, and shine he did. Barry led the talented Bulldogs to a 9-2 season as a junior and an 11-1 season as a senior. Barry led his team to a 20-3 record, (an 87% winning percentage) during his 2 years starting. Additionally, he had combined 2,200 yards rushing and passing and accounted for 18 touchdowns (11 passing and 7 rushing) as a two-year starter.
During his senior year, Barry was named the Captain for the Bulldogs, who were the pre-season Florida Times Union’s top 25 South Georgia High school football team. Barry certainly lived up to his appointment as Captain by leading the Bulldogs to a #1 state football ranking while completing 60% of his passes during the 12-1 season. Barry won the Most Valuable Player award for football, illustrating his amazing qualities on the football field.
Barry Taylor, however, wasn’t done with his high school career, and he continued his hard work into the baseball season, where he was a three-year letterman as a pitcher and a hard-hitting third baseman. Barry’s athletic ability certainly didn’t decline on the baseball diamond. His junior and senior season, he was known as the ace of the pitching staff and someone that opposing pitchers feared at the plate. Barry was a force at the plate and maintained a 300+ batting average over his junior and senior years. Barry’s superb play earned him the Most Valuable Player award in Baseball his senior year.
After his senior year, Barry accepted a football scholarship to Southern University and A&M College. During his five-year college career, Barry lettered and was the starting quarterback in 1982. He was named Captain his senior year in 1984-1985. Barry went on to graduate in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
One of Barry’s favorite memories was in 1978. With 44 seconds remaining in the game, he threw the winning touchdown pass to the legendary Charles Junior to defeat county rival Ware County 19-13. The win extended the Bulldogs’ winning streak to 19 games and preserved their #1 ranking in the state.
Barry is married to Pamela Elaine Taylor and has two children: Barrissa P. Taylor (daughter) and Barry P. (BJ) Taylor, Jr. (son). Barry is the son of Mrs. Lenera Taylor and Coach Walter Taylor Sr. (deceased). His brothers are Pete Taylor, Keith Taylor, Stacy Taylor, and Morris Brown (deceased); sisters are Phyllis Taylor and Patrice Taylor.
Congratulations Barry Taylor on your well-deserved induction into the Waycross-Ware County Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2024.