Frederick R. Taylor

Frederick R. Taylor, born in Zanesville, served in the Army and Air Force during World War II, graduated from The Ohio State University in 1950, started on Ohio State's 1950 Big Ten basketball championship team that finished third in the nation, and was a 1950 All American baseball player. He played professional baseball with the Washington Senators for three years, moved to Upper Arlington before becoming head basketball coach at Ohio State in 1958, and won seven Big Ten titles during 18 years as head coach. His teams won the 1960 NCAA basketball championship and were runners-up in 1961 and 1962. He was enshrined in the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame and the National Basketball Hall of Fame. He instilled in his players the importance of education, and honesty and integrity exemplified his career and personal life. Known as Fred, he touched people from all walks of life and helped them realize their full potential. He was kind, loyal, compassionate, and keenly humorous, gave his time, talents, and wisdom to many civic and charitable causes, and with his wife of 54 years, Eileen, had four daughters: Janna, Krista, Nicola, and Sharla.

Upper Arlington, Ohio · United States