Carl Taylor, a longtime coach and board member of the West Hartford Youth Lacrosse League, will be inducted at the Hall of Fame Banquet in November.

Carl Taylor (back row, left) with the WHYLL Senior Red team in 1983. Submitted photo

Submitted

Longtime West Hartford Youth Lacrosse volunteer Judge Carl Taylor has been named to the Connecticut Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class of 2016 for his long time service and contributions to the game in Connecticut.

Taylor has been a fixture in the West Hartford Lacrosse League since the early 1980s. It is likely that thousands of young men have been the beneficiary of Taylor’s hard work and dedication, as well as his endless stockpile of lacrosse equipment housed in his garage.

Taylor, a native of Washington, DC, played high school lacrosse at Taft and the Bullis school in Potomac, MD. Taylor then played lacrosse and football at Wesleyan University, graduating in 1978 with a B.A. in American History and Sociology. Post-Collegiate experience included playing for the New Haven Lacrosse Club, Connecticut Valley Lacrosse Association and the Farmington Valley Lacrosse Association.

Carl Taylor (left) will be inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Submitted photo

Taylor attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, earning his J.D. in 1981. From there he embarked in a career in the Connecticut State Attorney’s office from 1982 through 2001. In 2001 Taylor was appointed to the bench of the Connecticut Superior Court where he continues to serve today. He has presided in Juvenile, Family and Criminal Courts in Hartford, Rockville, New Britain, Manchester, and Middletown. He has served as a faculty member of the Connecticut Judge’s Institute and on the Superior Court Rules Committee.

Taylor’s contributions to the West Hartford Youth Lacrosse League (WHYLL) are immeasurable. He has served as a coach, Senior Division Vice President, a member of the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee of the board. Taylor’s unselfish dedication to the boys in West Hartford is unique. He isn’t there just simply to help his own child, he is there for all the boys! To give that much of himself for so many years speaks to the person he is.

However, his ultimate contribution may be continued service as the Equipment Manager for WHYLL. Any new player in need of equipment, from helmet to stick can, borrow it from Taylor. Many lacrosse careers have been launched because Taylor had the right size helmet, shoulder pads, arm pads or gloves to allow a new player to take the field. Anyone who wanted to try lacrosse in West Hartford, but was not yet ready to make, or could not afford, the financial commitment, was able to get all of the equipment needed from Taylor’s garage.

Throughout the spring, when not coaching the Senior Red 1 (aka The Unforgiven), Taylor can be found on the sidelines of the local high schools and college programs watching his former players and photographing the action. Due to the unique demographic of West Hartford that serves so many schools, Taylor has always supported all the boys, regardless of where their playing careers ended up taking them. Taylor has also served as a mentor to many who have gone on to coach in the youth, high school and college ranks. Taylor’s love for the game of lacrosse and his dedication to the growth of the game of lacrosse for the last 40 years make him one of the driving forces in the northern part of the state. For Taylor it has always been about the game,regardless of the teams playing. Thousands of West Hartford lacrosse players owe a debt of gratitude for Taylor’s commitment to grow the sport of lacrosse and his friendship. He is truly a great contributor.

Taylor resides in West Hartford with his wife, Shari J. Cantor and his son John who is an alumnus of the WHYLL.

Taylor will be inducted at the annual Hall of Fame banquet to be held November 19th at Vazzano’s Four Seasons restaurant in Stratford. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the event please visit the Connecticut Chapter of US Lacrosse web site www.ctlacrosse.com.