Buies Creek, N.C.-When Dr. Gary Taylor, chair of the Psychology Department at Campbell University, received the Pine Burr yearbook dedication on Wednesday, April 28, he was “surprised” and “very honored.” But when Taylor arrived at Campbell over 40 years ago, he had no intention of staying.
“I really didn’t expect to be here this long,” he said, “just until I received my Ph.D. from N.C. State. But I got settled here, I liked it. I like the people here, the area and I really like what’s happening now.”
With Campbell’s recent expansion, these are exciting times to be a part of the university, Taylor said. “Students are very proud of Campbell academically,” he added. “I think the university has moved into a top-notch academic institution.”
When he’s not teaching or working as a practicing psychologist, Taylor likes to participate in triathlons, which he describes in his typical laid back fashion.
“A triathlon is when a group of people get together and swim for awhile, run for awhile and bike for awhile and then get together at the end and lie about how much fun it was,” he said.
But Taylor’s 40 years at Campbell have been fun, he said.
“I guess I’ve had the best of both worlds, being able to teach students while still getting in a lot of clinical practice,” he said.
A native of Tulsa, Ok. Taylor graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University where he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University.
Taylor resides in Dunn, N.C., where he lives with his wife Ann, a former partner of the legal firm of Pope, Tilghman, Tart and Taylor in Dunn and currently chair of the Paralegal program at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Dr. Taylor has served as music director of the Neill’s Creek Baptist Church in Angier since 1970.
Taylor, who doesn’t plan on retiring any time soon, looks forward to the future. “It’s been a really pleasant ride,” he said.
Photo Copy: Dr. Gary Taylor poses with the bike he uses to compete in triathlons.