When John Taylor was named First Carolina Agency’s Unsung Hero of the year, he knew he wanted to donate to a local charity.
Today he gave a check for $1,000 to the Halifax County Boys and Girls Club.
“They’ve done so much for the community,” Taylor, a Roanoke Rapids police officer who was shot during a November 17 traffic stop on Interstate 95, said.
Taylor was named the insurance company’s Unsung Hero last month. This is the fifth year of the award, said Phil Hux, owner of the agency.
In the five years of the award, Hux has met some interesting people, he said before a photo opportunity. “One person nominated his wife because he said living with him she needed something.”
Kim Taresco, director of the club, said the money will be used for programs and operations, one of the most recent being taking a group of children to the women’s ACC tournament.
“There were a lot of worthy causes,” Taylor said. “I’ve known about the Boys and Girls Club for a while. It’s really important that the children have this opportunity. If it wasn’t for the Boys and Girls Club it’s hard to think about what they would be doing.”
Taylor continues to recover from the wounds he received the day of the shooting. He has to go back for surgery on his wrist, which has given him the most problems of any of the wounds he received that day. “I thought if I could walk out of everything alive it’s a fair trade.”
One of the things that has happened from the shooting is Taylor gets cards and letters from people caught in the traffic gridlock the shooting caused, people who were initially irritated by the delay. “People have really come together. When you have that support, it really helps. It makes you realize how many good people there are in the world.”
Anyone wishing to nominate someone for next year’s award may do so by emailing Hux at
