Explanation
Title
To honor and recognize Coach Robert T. Talley for over 35 years of service to youth in the Columbus community
Body
WHEREAS, Coach Robert T. Talley has given tirelessly to youth in the Columbus Community as a volunteer coach for local track clubs since the early 1970's; and,
WHEREAS, he co-founded the Capitol City Comets Track Club where he has been the head coach since inception. Coach Talley and his coaching staff have trained more than 900 young athletes, traveled from coast-to-coast for competition and produced over 45 national champions; and,
WHEREAS, Coach Talley was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended East High School where he excelled in track and field. He earned a track and football scholarship to A & T University in Greensboro, North Carolina. Having been a talented football, baseball and track and field star, it was not a stretch for Coach Talley to mentor and groom young athletes to become rising stars; and,
WHEREAS, Coach Talley has consistently participated as a member and served in leadership roles with the governing bodies that sanction track and field such as The Athletic Congress (TAC), USA Track and Field (USATF), and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). He served as president of AAU and TAC during the 1980's. Coach Talley has also assisted young people through outreach track programs at Pilgrim School and has served as a volunteer Assistant Coach at Eastmoor High School; and,
WHEREAS, at age 74 years young, Coach Talley continues being punctual at practices, cajoling young athletes to work hard in school and on the track and carrying athletes to and from practice and competition. In the words of one of his former athletes, "every child should have a Mr. Talley in their life." Coach Talley is married to Jeanne (Rogers), his high school sweetheart. They have four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is a member of St. Mark A.M.E. Church where he serves on t...
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