Awards

School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award - 2018

About Frederick A. Taylor

Frederick A. Taylor, Jr., has spent his career serving veterans, students, his community, and Indiana University. A three-time Purple Heart recipient from the Vietnam War, Taylor has tirelessly advocated for veterans and is a prominent voice in veterans' affairs. As a founder of the IU Disabled Veterans Campus Chapter #35, he helped improve the campus and its sidewalks to accommodate handicapped students. He was selected to sit on the State of Indiana Committee for the Employment of the Handicapped, as well as the national Army Chief of Staff's Advisory Council at the Pentagon. He was invited to discuss veterans' health care issues with presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush at the White House, and he made a presentation to Congress's Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs. In 2000, he was elected National Commander of the 45,000-member Military Order of the Purple Heart, a congressionally chartered organization for combat wounded veterans. The same year, Taylor represented the United States as a delegate at the World Veterans' Federation meeting in Paris, France, where they discussed international land mine reform, care for the world's wounded and disabled veterans, and assistance for civilian casualties of war. He is currently the National Commander for the Combat Infantrymen's Association.

His numerous awards include: the James Dean Humanitarian Award for his volunteerism on behalf of veterans and their families; the Legion of Merit Bronze Medallion, awarded by the Chapel of the Four Chaplains organization in recognition of humanitarian service to all people, regardless of race, creed, or faith; and the Sagamore of the Wabash for his distinguished service to the State of Indiana and the United States. He was also inducted into both the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame and the Indiana Military Veterans' Hall of Fame. Taylor received his B.S. in Education, his M.S. in Secondary Education, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Management (Hospital Administration) from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, all from Indiana University. Presently, he is the administrator of Zephyrhills Health & Rehabilitation Center, in Zephyrhills, Florida.