Each Wednesday for a six-week period from June 4 to July 2, one of the newly minted inductees to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame will be profiled. In our fourth installment for the Class of 2025, read about Dr. Donald Taylor (DDS '66), a two-sport athlete on our campus.

A native of Lachine, Que., Taylor's collegiate athletic career from 1960 to 1965 showcased his versatility, leadership, and sportsmanship in football and hockey. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 195 pounds, Taylor's athletic prowess and dedication left an indelible mark on McGill's storied sports tradition.

Born on April 19, 1942, Taylor arrived at McGill in 1960, initially pursuing engineering before transferring to the faculty of dentistry, where he earned his DDS in 1966. On the football field, he was a model of consistency and leadership across six seasons as an offensive end (blocker/receiver) and defensive back.

A five-time league all-star, he earned honours at offensive end in 1960, 1961, 1962 and again in 1964, while also claiming all-conference status as a defensive back that same season — a rare two-way selection reflecting his ability on both sides of the ball. In an era when the passing game played second fiddle to the rush attack, Taylor recorded nine touchdowns and nine interceptions over 36 regular-season contests.

A natural leader, Taylor was one of the team's co-captains in 1963, 1964, and 1965, after serving as alternate captain in 1962. His sportsmanship was equally celebrated, as evidenced by his four-time receipt of the Fred Wigle Trophy as the team's most sportsmanlike player (1962-1965). Taylor played a pivotal role in McGill's 1960 and 1962 Yates Cup league championship teams, with the 1960 squad also capturing the Churchill Bowl as national champions. His ability to perform under pressure and inspire teammates cemented his legacy as a cornerstone of McGill's football program.

Described in the media as a superb blocker with a fine pair of hands, Taylor was noted in one report to be the team's most dangerous "home run" threat, highlighted by a career-high 79-yard pass-and-run play in 1962.

Beyond football, Taylor laced up for two seasons (1963-64 to 1964-65) with McGill's hockey team, further showcasing his athletic versatility. His contributions extended to intramural sports and campus activities, earning him the Scarlet Key Award for exemplary leadership. Taylor's participation also touched the faculty of dentistry, where he served on the class executive.

After graduating, Taylor's commitment to McGill continued as he returned to serve as an assistant coach, working with the football team's defensive backs. His professional journey took him from a group dental practice in Montreal to earning an orthodontics degree from the University of Western Ontario. Returning to Montreal in 1980, he practiced orthodontics while teaching part-time at the Royal Victoria Hospital and at McGill's faculty of dentistry.

Now retired, Taylor's legacy was as a student-athlete, mentor and health professional and his induction celebrates a career defined by athletic excellence, leadership, and service.

Other laureates accompanying Taylor in the McGill induction class of 2025 include football's Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of St. Hilaire, Que., and hockey's Katia Clément-Heydra (BA '14), from St. Bruno de Montarville, Que. Selected in the builder category is Dr. Philip Hedrei (MDCM '00), a rowing coach from Town of Mt. Royal, Que., and  Abigail Tannebaum-Sharon (BA '00), a lacrosse player-coach from Bethesda, MD. Picked in the team category is the 2015 men's lacrosse squad that posted a perfect 15-0 record in league and playoffs en route to capturing the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association championship.
 
The McGill pantheon now has 186 honoured members, 31 of them Olympians. Founded in 1996, it will be celebrating its 30th induction class this year and is located inside Tomlinson Hall at the Sir Arthur Currie Gymnasium at 475 Pine Avenue West. This year's induction luncheon is slated for Friday, Oct. 24, as part of McGill Homecoming 2025, and will be held at 1909 Taverne Moderne, next to the Bell Centre on Avenue des Canadiens. Ticket information will be announced in early September and posted on the McGill Athletics and Homecoming 2025 websites.

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (cell)
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca