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A Spirit of Giving
Jack Werne, Main Street Collierville President, presents Taylor Stamps, right, with "The Spirit of Giving Award".
Each May, Main Street Collierville pauses to celebrate National Preservation Month. This is done with various activities as well as with the Preservation Awards which recognize those individuals and businesses that have worked to improve and preserve the Historic District. This year was no exception. On May 18 Main Street Collierville presented its awards to many deserving individuals and businesses. However, one individual stood out among the recipients, Taylor Stamps. Taylor was recognized this year for his outstanding "Spirit of Giving". He is a highly respected community leader with a generous spirit for volunteering.
Taylor was born and raised in Collierville. In fact, he lived and worked on the same block until 1971. His father owned an automobile dealership at 127 North Main Street, now where there is an Army surplus store. Their home was located just above the dealership until one horrific night. One hot August night, a fire started in the shop below which quickly spread to five other stores on the Square. Taylor remembers standing in the street with only the bottoms to his pajamas on watching as his family lost all they had. With little or no insurance, his family was left to fear what would come next. The community of Collierville surrounded the family, donating what they could to help the family get reestablished. They were taken in by a generous neighbor while they figured out their next move. Taylor's grandmother had a home at Main Street and Poplar where the family began rebuilding their lives with rough, green wood and cinder blocks. They started over with a four room house with a concrete floor.
Taylor marks this time in his life as a defining moment. Without the Town's support, the family would have never made it. This has always stayed with him. He has taken those feelings of gratitude and given back to the community his entire life.
Taylor has served on Main Street Collierville Board of Directors assisting in the preservation of the Historic District as well as any events he can be involved in. He has served in many leadership roles in the community including on the Planning Commission, Police Advisory Board and the Industrial Development Board. He is one of the founding fathers of the Collierville Chamber of Commerce and has served on its Board as well as chaired the Business Expo. He worked to establish the first emergency service fundraising to pay for the first ambulance. Taylor was named 2001 Collierville Person of the Year and was in the first graduating class of Leadership Collierville. Through all the activities, the one closest to this heart is the Rotary Club. Involved since 1961, Taylor claims the motto the Rotary Club adheres to, "Service over self", is what makes the organization so important to him.
When asked what piece of advice he would give to the up and coming generations, he stated, "Take stock of yourself. Determine what your values are and stick with them." He went on to say, "People move to Collierville because they like the atmosphere, the parks and the schools. It is a nice place to live. Get involved. Whether you get involved with your church, civic club or other organizations, find a place where your services can be used and become a part of Collierville instead of just living here."
Taylor resides with his wife of 41 years, Kay, not far from Main Street where he grew up. They have 2 sons, Ty and Stephen. Ty and his wife, Melissa, live in Collierville with their 2 sons, Benjamin and Sam. Stephen resides near by in Memphis.
A Spirit of Giving
Jack Werne, Main Street Collierville President, presents Taylor Stamps, right, with "The Spirit of Giving Award".
Each May, Main Street Collierville pauses to celebrate National Preservation Month. This is done with various activities as well as with the Preservation Awards which recognize those individuals and businesses that have worked to improve and preserve the Historic District. This year was no exception. On May 18 Main Street Collierville presented its awards to many deserving individuals and businesses. However, one individual stood out among the recipients, Taylor Stamps. Taylor was recognized this year for his outstanding "Spirit of Giving". He is a highly respected community leader with a generous spirit for volunteering.
Taylor was born and raised in Collierville. In fact, he lived and worked on the same block until 1971. His father owned an automobile dealership at 127 North Main Street, now where there is an Army surplus store. Their home was located just above the dealership until one horrific night. One hot August night, a fire started in the shop below which quickly spread to five other stores on the Square. Taylor remembers standing in the street with only the bottoms to his pajamas on watching as his family lost all they had. With little or no insurance, his family was left to fear what would come next. The community of Collierville surrounded the family, donating what they could to help the family get reestablished. They were taken in by a generous neighbor while they figured out their next move. Taylor's grandmother had a home at Main Street and Poplar where the family began rebuilding their lives with rough, green wood and cinder blocks. They started over with a four room house with a concrete floor.
Taylor marks this time in his life as a defining moment. Without the Town's support, the family would have never made it. This has always stayed with him. He has taken those feelings of gratitude and given back to the community his entire life.
Taylor has served on Main Street Collierville Board of Directors assisting in the preservation of the Historic District as well as any events he can be involved in. He has served in many leadership roles in the community including on the Planning Commission, Police Advisory Board and the Industrial Development Board. He is one of the founding fathers of the Collierville Chamber of Commerce and has served on its Board as well as chaired the Business Expo. He worked to establish the first emergency service fundraising to pay for the first ambulance. Taylor was named 2001 Collierville Person of the Year and was in the first graduating class of Leadership Collierville. Through all the activities, the one closest to this heart is the Rotary Club. Involved since 1961, Taylor claims the motto the Rotary Club adheres to, "Service over self", is what makes the organization so important to him.
When asked what piece of advice he would give to the up and coming generations, he stated, "Take stock of yourself. Determine what your values are and stick with them." He went on to say, "People move to Collierville because they like the atmosphere, the parks and the schools. It is a nice place to live. Get involved. Whether you get involved with your church, civic club or other organizations, find a place where your services can be used and become a part of Collierville instead of just living here."
Taylor resides with his wife of 41 years, Kay, not far from Main Street where he grew up. They have 2 sons, Ty and Stephen. Ty and his wife, Melissa, live in Collierville with their 2 sons, Benjamin and Sam. Stephen resides near by in Memphis.
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