Posted on Friday, April 19, 2024
Dr. Zach Taylor III ’77, whose role as Georgia Public Health District 2 Director was critical in helping steer his community through the worldwide medical crisis, will share the keynote speech during the 193rd commencement ceremony with graduating seniors who persevered through their own pandemic challenges.
The event will take place on Saturday, May 4, at 8:30 a.m. at Callaway Stadium. In the case of rain, the location will be moved to LaGrange High School’s gymnasium.
In his current position, Dr. Taylor oversees the programs of 13 counties in Northeast Georgia. He served in the role on an interim basis from September to November in 2020. Prior to that, he was the health director for the North Georgia Health District in Dalton, Georgia.
Upon deciding in high school to pursue a career as a physician, he chose to attend LaGrange College, an institution he was very familiar with because his father, Zachary Taylor Jr. taught business administration at the college for 35 years.
“I knew it was an excellent school and I also had the advantage of knowing many of the professors who would be teaching me,” Dr. Taylor said. “Growing up around LC grounded me in the importance of education and contributed to my development as a lifelong learner.”
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from LaGrange College in 1977, a Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia in 1982 and a Master of Science degree in preventive medicine from the University of Maryland in 1989.
After completing his medical education and training, he became an officer with the United States Public Health Service. In the span of 30 years, he worked in clinical practice with the Indian Health Service and public health practice with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other Health and Human Services agencies. He retired from his federal role with the rank of Assistant Surgeon General in 2015.
Now directing public health programs at the county level, Dr. Taylor said his current position is the culmination of everything he has done in his past work experiences.
“I have learned the importance of community efforts to improve the health of people as well as protect them from threats such as infectious diseases, bioterrorism and natural disasters,” he said.
At LaGrange College, Dr. Taylor received the Shackelford Alumni Achievement Award in 2015.
He and his wife, Joanie, reside in Gainesville.
“Past, Present and Future” student art exhibition
Friday, April 19
5 p.m., Lamar Dodd Art Center
“Sadly, it is all about the money, and we should have seen it coming!”
Monday, April 22
7 p.m., Bailey Room
WAV Music Recital
Tuesday, April 23
11 a.m., Main Recording Studio, A110, West Side
Screening of "Saving the Chattahoochee" and Filmmaker Q&A
Tuesday, April 23
11 a.m., Beason Recital Hall
KeOnthany Seals' Music Capstone
Wednesday, April 24
6 p.m., Main Recording Studio, A110, West Side
2024 LC Film Showcase
Thursday, April 25
5:30 p.m., Beason Recital Hall
Baseball
The Panthers fell 1-0, 6-2 and 3-2 in their series against Belhaven University last weekend. This past Tuesday, the team beat Berry College 10-7. The Panthers host Piedmont University on Friday, April 19 (tonight), at 7 p.m. in game one of the three-game CCS series. The other two games will start at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. Game times and dates could change due to rain.
Softball
LC went 1-3 last weekend after splitting the series with a 2-10 loss and a 5-3 win against Agnes Scott and a 0-6 and 1-5 loss against Piedmont. The team will host Wesleyan on Friday, April 19 (today), at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Lacrosse
The Panthers will be at Southern Virginia University on Saturday, April 20, at 1 p.m.
Golf
LC placed ninth out of 12 teams in this year’s Visit Florence Intercollegiate April 14-16 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Sophomore Jeremy Edmunds finished with a team-best plus one, earning him the eighth spot out of 62 golfers.
Women’s Tennis
The Panthers were edged out by Mississippi University for Women on Saturday, April 13. On Thursday, the team took a 3-6 loss against Huntingdon. The Panthers will be on the road to take on Agnes Scott in the final match of the season on Saturday, April 20.
Men’s Tennis
LC crushed Mississippi University for Women 9-0 on Saturday, April 13. On Thursday, the team lost 2-7 against Huntingdon. The Panthers will compete in the CCS Championship on Thursday, April 25, in Decatur, Georgia.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, April 19 – Softball (Home) vs. Wesleyan, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Friday, April 19 – Baseball (Home) vs. Piedmont, 7 p.m., Cleaveland Field at Williamson Stadium
Saturday, April 20 – Women’s Tennis at Agnes Scott, 10 a.m., Decatur, Georgia
Saturday, April 20 – Lacrosse at Southern Virginia, 1 p.m., Buena Vista, Virginia
Saturday, April 20 – Baseball (Home) vs. Piedmont, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Cleaveland Field at Williamson Stadium
Monday, April 22 – Men’s Tennis (Exhibition) at Point University, 4 p.m., West Point, Georgia
Monday, April 22 – Women’s Tennis (Exhibition) at Point University, 4 p.m., West Point, Georgia
Thursday, April 25 – Men’s Tennis (CCS Tournament-Opening Round) vs. Belhaven @ Chattanooga Champions Club, 2 p.m., Chattanooga, Tennessee
LaGrange College to host National History Day competition, LaGrange Daily News, April 16
LaGrange College musical focuses on modern-day romance, LaGrange Daily News, April 13
Musical Romance on Price Theater stage
'I Love You Because," a warm, delightful musical comes to the Price Theater mainstage April 18-20 at 7 p.m., with a Sunday matinee April 21 at 2 p.m.
Category: Students, Academics, College
Keywords: graduation, healthcare
