Marvin T. Taylor, whose relentless efforts to revamp Hermann Park in the 1980s and ‘90s earned him the praise of the community, died Monday. He was 93.
His dedication to beautifying and maintaining the jewel of Houston’s parks system earned him the nickname the “Mayor of Hermann Park.” Taylor became known for his routine of arriving at the park before dawn to pick up litter, as well as his friendly demeanor and ability to persuade others to pitch in.
“He knew if people would see him out there, one good leader makes another,” said Ruth Taylor, his wife of 68 years. “He was very inspiring to a lot of people in the community, young and old.”
Taylor, an avid runner well into his 70s, formed the nonprofit Runners, Joggers, and Walkers of Hermann Park, which later merged into what would become the Hermann Park Conservancy. He was a founding member of the conservancy board, on which he served for 27 years.
Doreen Stoller, president of the Hermann Park Conservancy, recounted how Taylor used a machete to bushwack the overgrown trails in the 1980s. He soon convinced others to help maintain the trails.
“When asked why they wanted to get involved in the conservancy, the answer was often, ‘because Marvin told me to,” Stoller said. “When Marvin organized one of his trail cleanup projects, he quietly but firmly let every board member know that they, too, were expected to get out there with a rake.”
For decades, Taylor helped organize races in the park. From his regular perch along the trail, Stoller said he was unafraid to give passing runners advice on how to improve their posture and stride.
Due in large part to Taylor’s perseverance, the runner’s group was able to get the 2-mile path lighted and paved with crushed granite in the early ‘90s. In 1994, the city of Houston named the trail in Taylor’s honor.
“It’s like a dream come true,” Taylor told the Chronicle at the time. “Fighting for this trail has been like fighting the Vietnam War.”
Taylor was born on March 22, 1925, in the East Texas town of Hallsville. He joined the Navy and served in World War II and the Korean War. He met his wife, Ruth, while both attended Prairie View A&M University. After being discharged from the military, Taylor worked as a postal worker until 1987, when he retired and turned much of his attention to Hermann Park.
Taylor is survived by his wife and two sons, Lyle Taylor and Glenn Arthur Taylor. His oldest son, Marine Corps veteran Marvin Taylor Jr., died of cancer.
Houston leaders, conservancy members, and park regulars bid farewell to Taylor at a funeral mass at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church in the Third Ward on Saturday. Taylor was buried at Houston National Cemetery.
Author: Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle.