Bobby Taylor
Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland will pay for the required street signage and no businesses other than Taylor’s — Bank of Cleveland — will be impacted with new mailing addresses.
The name change will affect only the short stretch of First Street between Ocoee and Broad streets. This is the street section that fronts Bank of Cleveland.
“Bobby was a person who was always interested in history,” said At-Large Councilman Richard Banks, who made the name-change motion. Banks quoted several excerpts from a local history written by a Cleveland author and Lee University professor, the late Dr. William Snell.
Banks referred to a downtown area formerly known as Taylor’s Place because it once housed a log cabin built by a man named Andrew Taylor. It was recognized as the center of Cleveland, Banks said.
The councilman credited the Bank of Cleveland founder with having a huge impact on the community because of his previous years of service on the former Bradley County Quarterly Court (predecessor to the Bradley County Commission) and the former Cleveland City Commission (predecessor to the City Council). He called Taylor a natural leader who believed in community.
Councilman David May agreed.
“Bobby was a leader ... who could look into the future,” May said. “When Bobby served on the (city) commission, he and other members made some really tough decisions.” These were decisions, however, that positively impacted the city in the long-term, he added.
Of Banks’ recommendation to rename the section of First Street, Councilwoman Bambi Hines stressed, “I think it’s a great idea.” She later added, “Bobby Taylor was what Cleveland is all about.”
Banks’ motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Avery Johnson. Council members approved without opposition. Also supporting the motion were Bill Robertson, Hines and May. Two members, George Poe and Bill Estes, could not attend either of Monday’s sessions.
Banks credited Rowland for his emotional and inspiring eulogy of Taylor during the funeral at Broad Street United Methodist Church. Calling the mayor’s message an “eloquent eulogy,” Banks said it was “very fitting” and was an appropriate way to say goodbye to the Cleveland business leader who is best known for his support of U.S. veterans. He always attended the Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day ceremonies at Johnston Park and the Bradley County Courthouse Plaza respectively, and at Fort Hill Cemetery before it was moved to the plaza. Taylor served in the Army Air Corps in World War II in which he flew 35 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. He also was mobilized in 1950 during the Korean conflict.
Taylor was born Aug. 15, 1921, and died July 16, 2010.
In the 2 p.m. work session, City Council members:
- Welcomed Guy Davis, new district manager of Waste Connections, the contracted refuse collector for the city. Davis said he has just been appointed to the position and looks forward to working with city government leaders.
- Mayor Rowland presented certificates of appreciation to members of the Bradley County Emergency Medical Service, Cleveland Fire Department and Cleveland Police Department for their recent roles in helping to locate a missing elderly man who had wandered from his family at a local business. The man was eventually located two miles away and returned to the care of his loved ones. (Additional information will be published in a later edition of the Banner).
- In response to an inquiry by Banks, City Manager Janice Casteel said she and city attorney John Kimball have scheduled a meeting Aug. 13 with family heirs regarding future uses of the downtown Johnston Park. Casteel said family representatives have been receptive to talking to city government leaders about the park’s future. In a previous motion by Banks, the Council approved a plan asking that the family amend park guidelines to allow its continued use of events like the Veteran’s Day Ceremony, the Evening Shade Concerts, State Rep. Eric Watson’s gospel singing and perhaps other events. Banks’ proposal calls for the park’s ownership and upkeep to revert back to the family if these amendments cannot be made.
