As Black History Month begins, it's a fitting time to recognize some of the greatest Black athletes and teams in Taylor’s history.
Among them are Olympian Fred Kerley, the O.L. Price Panthers, who captured a state championship in 1962 during the era of segregation, and basketball standout KC Jones.
Fred Kerley
Fred Kerley, a Taylor native, attended Taylor High School while running track for the College Station Sprinters. He competed at South Plains College from 2013 to 2015 before transferring to Texas A&M University, where he became one of the nation’s top sprinters.
Kerley helped Team USA win gold in the 4x100 meters at the NACAC Under-23 Championships. He also made history in college, winning the 400 meters at the NCAA Division I Championships with a world-leading time of 44.85 seconds and setting the NCAA record in the event at the 2017 NCAA West Preliminary.
His success continued on the international stage. Kerley won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and added a bronze at the Paris 2024 Games.
O.L. Price Panthers
The O.L. Price Panthers were a powerhouse in the Prairie View Interscholastic League, competing during segregation. In 1962, they put together a dominant season, rolling past opponents with victories such as 60-0 over Luling, 72-20 over Cameron, 48-6 over College Station, 51-0 over Rosebud, and 63-0 over Belton.
Their most lopsided win came in a 106-6 rout of Belton Harris High School.
The Panthers capped off their historic season with a commanding 42-6 victory over Dalton Cobert to claim a state championship.
At the time, the team alternated home games with the Taylor Ducks at Taylor Memorial Stadium.
Following each home game, a celebratory dance was held at the Community Center on Gym Street.
Head Coach Edward “Bud” Elders was later offered an assistant coaching position with the Ducks after integration but declined, opting to remain with a more successful program rather than take what he felt was a lesser role.
KC Jones
KC Jones was born in Taylor in 1932, the oldest of six children. When he was 9, his parents separated, and he moved to San Francisco. He learned to play basketball on a gravel patch and attended Commerce High School, where he played both basketball and football.
Jones continued his collegiate career at the University of San Francisco, playing alongside Bill Russell and helping lead the team to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956.
He went on to play nine seasons in the NBA with the Boston Celtics before retiring in 1967.
Jones later became a decorated head coach, winning two NBA championships with the Celtics. In 1989, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
