Quadruple Panther Discovers Rewarding Journey through Learning, Leadership and Stewardship

CLARKSTON, Ga. — For Hurl Taylor, education has never been confined to a classroom. It has been a lifelong pursuit that began with a scholarship to college, continued through military service and graduate studies, and now inspires his work as president of the Georgia State University Perimeter College Board of Advisors.

Taylor's connection to Georgia State and Perimeter College spans more than five decades. Shortly after returning from military service in Vietnam, he enrolled in graduate courses through Georgia State University's educational programs offered at Fort Benning. In 1972, after transferring to Fort McPherson in Atlanta, he discovered what was then known as DeKalb Community College and began teaching mathematics as an adjunct instructor at the Clarkston and Decatur campuses.

"I was looking to do a little teaching," Taylor recalled. "That's how I got started."

What began as a part-time teaching opportunity evolved into a lasting relationship with the institution. Decades later, Taylor joined the college's board of advisors and is now in his second term as board president.

Taylor's educational journey is remarkable in both scope and determination. While serving in the Army, he earned a master's degree, an educational specialist degree and a doctorate in education through Georgia State University. Between 1970 and 1974, he completed the three degrees while balancing military responsibilities and maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

"I never thought I would have gotten any kind of degree coming up in a relatively impoverished environment," Taylor said.

Growing up in Richmond, Va., Taylor said many young men in his community saw only two career paths: the military or the postal service. A high school guidance counselor altered the course of his life by encouraging him to pursue college scholarships rather than enlist immediately after graduation. Her support ultimately led him to Hampton University, where he arrived as a 17-year-old freshman without ever having visited the campus.

"I had everything I owned in one trunk," Taylor said. "There I was, 17 years old with a big trunk on a strange campus."

After retiring from the military, Taylor continued expanding his education. Inspired initially by the television legal drama "Perry Mason," he enrolled in law school and ultimately earned a law degree from Emory University in 1985 on a full scholarship. He went on to build a career concentrating on juvenile and military law and continues to maintain a limited practice today.

Taylor experienced Perimeter College from a different perspective when he returned to the college as a student. In 2007, he earned an associate of arts degree in the foreign languages pathway. “A reminder,” he said, “that learning never stops no matter where you are in your journey.”

With the consolidation of Georgia State University and Perimeter College, Taylor holds a rare distinction of being a Quadruple Panther, having four degrees under the Georgia State University umbrella.

Beyond professional accomplishments, Taylor remains committed to service. Through his church, Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, he works with young people in the juvenile justice system, providing mentorship and spiritual guidance.

His commitment to helping students succeed stems from lessons he learned throughout his own educational journey. Chief among them, he says, is the importance of time management.

"Being in the Army and going to school at the same time, it was really a matter of prioritizing and managing time," Taylor said.

That lesson remains one of the key messages he shares with students today, along with the importance of adaptability and preparation.

Taylor encourages students to develop contingency plans and remain flexible as circumstances change. Drawing from military experience, he often advises students to have a "Plan A" and a "Plan B" ready for unexpected challenges.

He also believes students now have opportunities previous generations couldn’t even imagine.

"When I finished high school in 1956, we had none of the technology," Taylor said. "The quality of students today is amazing, but they have to adjust as times evolve."

As a donor, mentor and board leader, Taylor hopes his story demonstrates the value of giving back. He credits scholarships and the support of others for helping him achieve his goals and believes alumni have a responsibility to support future generations.

"If you go to school and graduate and it helps you along your career, then you should give a portion of it back," Taylor said. "If you can't give money, you can still serve as a mentor or resource for others."

Looking back on a career that has included military service, higher education, law, teaching and community leadership, Taylor remains grateful for the opportunities that shaped his life and optimistic about the students who will follow.

His advice is simple: "Listen very well, digest the information, make a plan for how you're going to use it and then evaluate what you've done."

"It's a simple four-step process," he said.

For Taylor, that philosophy has guided more than 70 years of learning, service and leadership, and continues to shape his connection to Perimeter College today.

-Story by Linda Hensel
-Photo by Bill Roa