One of the key cogs in the Carson High athletic program is retiring.
Kathy Taylor, who has served as athletic department secretary for Bob Bateman’s tenure as athletic director and this year for new AD Blair Roman, is leaving after 22 years with the school district. Her last official day is June 28.
“Kind of,” Taylor said when asked if she’d had the date circled on her calendar. “It is the last day of the school year no matter what.
“I want to spend more time with my entire family. My daughter (Ashley) is going to have another child (in Vancouver, Wash.), and I want to spend some time with my mother in Arizona (Mesa).”
A devout Giants fan, no doubt Taylor will plan her Arizona trips around spring training. During Carson High baseball games, she would be following the progress of her Giants on her computer.
Taylor’s job was a difficult one. She had a plethora of responsibilities, and she juggled them with ease. She dealt with facilities, playing schedules, eligibility, and arranging transportation for all of the teams. She was also responsible for hiring gate personnel for home games. Not only did she have CHS deadlines on her plate, but she also has NIAA deadlines as well.
Twelve or 13-hour days weren’t uncommon. She had to be on hand for all home athletic events, and in the fall that could be Tuesday through Saturday. The spring was nearly as bad.
“I’ll miss the people here,” she said. “That is what I will miss the most about the job. What I won’t miss are the long hours.”
And, Taylor will be solely missed by faculty and athletic types alike.
“I just want to publicly thank Kathy for all her hard work and diligence in assisting the athletic directors all these years,” said Roman. “She has been indispensable for me, and I can speak for Bob (Bateman) on this. When Bob and Kathy took over there were a lot of changes statewide and new issues to be addressed at CHS. They developed the system we have now.
“I’ve been able to reap the benefits of that this year in my new role. A lot of the credit goes to her, and hopefully with her replacement, we can continue in a pretty smooth fashion. I’m going to miss her professionally, but also personally. We had a ton of fun this year. We’ve been friends for a long time and that will continue as she moves on.”
I dealt with Kathy a great deal, and she made my job much easier over the years, and I’m very thankful for that.
•••
Three local residents — Lander Smith , Ashley Fitzpatrick and Brynn Lehman — have qualified for upcoming national rodeo events.
Smith, an Eagle Valley Middle School student, won the chute dogging event at the Nevada Junior High School Finals, and he also qualified for nationals in the goat tying event.
Fitzpatrick, an eighth-grader at Carson Middle School, qualified in barrels.
The national event is June 18-24 in Lebanon, Tenn.
Lehman, a soccer standout at CHS, qualified for the national event in breakaway and poles. She also qualified for the national event last year.
The high school national rodeo finals are July 16-22 in Gillette, Wyo.
