Hall of Fame
Houston Taylor had a 25-year association with Southern Arkansas that began in 1982. He spent a total of 14 years as sports information director over two stints at the University, including his first three from 1990-1993, and also served the last 11 years as assistant athletic director. His time serving as a full-time SID is the longest in the history of SAU Athletics.
During his career as an SID, Taylor directed the statistical team for the inaugural 2012 CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl game in Copperas Cove, Texas and called statistics for the 2005 Independence Bowl game in Shreveport, La. Taylor was also a part of statistical teams that covered seven NCAA Division II regional baseball tournaments, including serving as director and host for the 2009 regional. Taylor also directed statistics for SAU’s involvement in the 1991 Aztec Bowl in Mexico City, and the 1991 NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. Additionally, Taylor directed statistical teams for the Louisiana state high school football playoffs and the Arkansas state high school basketball tournaments.
In 2011, Taylor saw a streak of working 131 consecutive Mulerider football games come to an end.
Taylor also served as a media facilitator and statistical team member for the NCAA Division II football playoffs and numerous Division II conference basketball, baseball and softball tournaments, and was coordinator for the Daktronics All-South Region women’s basketball team for four years. Over a nine-year period he oversaw the nominating process and successfully promoted eight student-athletes in being named to the Gulf South Conference Top Ten, with three claiming the coveted Gulf South Conference Commissioner’s Trophy.
Before beginning his second stint in athletics, Taylor spent two years in the Office of Admissions at SAU, holding the title of assistant director of admissions. He also served eight years as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology and Recreation.
Prior to returning to Southern Arkansas in 2000, Taylor taught public school at Centerpoint High School in Amity.
From 1994-1999, he served as education director, assistant program director, and juvenile probation officer for South Arkansas Youth Services, Inc., headquartered in Magnolia. During his tenure at SAYS, he was directly responsible for the education programs at the agency’s four facilities, revamping the curriculum at the Magnolia and Lewisville locations, and starting the education programs at new facilities in Mansfield and Dermott. During this time he was also the owner/operator of a health and fitness facility for five years.
Taylor worked as news and sports director at KVMA radio in Magnolia from 1993-1994, also serving as an account executive and broadcasting both SAU and Magnolia High School football, basketball and baseball games.
A native of Hatfield, Taylor attended both Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, earning his B.S.E. in physical education from SAU in 1989, and his M.Ed. in kinesiology from SAU in 1993.
Professionally, Taylor was a long-standing member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA); served 12 years on the board of directors of South Arkansas Youth Services, Inc.; and was a founding member and the longest-tenured senator on the Southern Arkansas University Staff Senate, serving 10 years, with two terms as president and one as vice-president.
