Corsicana —
Perry Taylor, a mainstay for 36 years at KAND Radio from the 1950s to the 1980s, passed away Saturday. He was 87.
Taylor manned the microphone at the local broadcast station as a newsman, announcer, and football play-by-play announcer for Corsicana Tiger football for decades.
Those who recall his broadcasts will remember a Tiger touchdown as a trip to “Happy Valley” as he would loudly announce on the radio.
“Perry was one of the last of the ‘KANDY Klassics,’” said Alan Barnes, longtime employee of KAND. “KANDY” was the logo for the radio station, which for many years during Taylor’s stay was called “The Kandy Spot” on the dial.
Dick Aldama, another KAND mainstay over the years, said he was “privileged to have worked with him.” Aldama worked with Taylor from 1979 to 1985 when Taylor retired.
“He was a great announcer,” recalled Richard Parker, former owner of KAND during part of Taylor’s career there. Parker bought the station in 1964, and sold it in 1995.
Taylor would often serve as reporter from Corsicana’s City Hall during live radio broadcasts of city council meetings back in the 1960s.
Taylor was born in Oklahoma in 1924, and served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945.
He worked at KAND from 1949 to 1985, retiring at the age of 61. Golf, family and music became his passions in his later years, along with dancing and writing.
“I played golf with Perry for 45 years,” recalled longtime friend Gene Bullard. “He was only person I ever played with who hit a ball out of bounds on the 17th hole at the Country Club.”
“He played with only three clubs,” Bullard said of Taylor. When he asked him why, Taylor said “It cut down on a lot of decisions to be made.”
Bullard said Taylor was a regular member of a group of men that played golf on Wednesdays. It was only in recent months that health problems limited his ability to take part in the group, but still his wit stayed sharp.
“He was one of the most interesting guys I think I’ve met in my life.”
Graveside services for Taylor are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Resthaven Memorial Park. A reception will follow at Corsicana Believer’s Bible Church until 1 p.m.
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Local radio icon Perry Taylor passes away
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