Someone You Should Know: Youth Boxing Coach
GARY, Ind. (CBS) -- He spent his career as a police officer, but for 25 years he's done something else to help kids.
John Taylor is a volunteer boxing coach. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield says he's someone you should know.
A determined young boxer works the bag one recent evening at Gleason Park, where Taylor has been mentoring for 25 years through the Gary Police Athletic League.
"This keeps me busy. It gives me something positive to do," Taylor says.
The 80-year-old picks up youngsters who need a ride to the gym.
Fourteen-year-old Arion Farmer appreciates the effort.
"He's putting in his time for us," the young man says.
Taylor says discipline is part of the program.
"If you're coming in here with your shoes untied and your pants down below your butt, you got to pull them up or you got to go," he says.
Since 1986, when the program was established, boxers from the gym have won seven state championships along with five silver glove championships.
Mike Kurzeja, a member of President Obama's Secret Service team, who trained as a boxer there. He still returns to work out.
Twenty-four-year-old Bonnie Liston -– a relative of world champion boxer Sonny Liston -- comes to the gym every day.
"I've always considered myself a fighter," she says.
Taylor, who likes to remember that he grew up picking cotton in Tennessee, can look back at all the youngsters he's helped with satisfaction.
"It makes me feel somebody upstairs might say hey, what that old Taylor did down there ain't too bad," he says.
