Coach, official and teacher Armand Taylor had the good fortune to be born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia. 

He attended Granby High School and was present at the creation and the beginning of the Martin Era that dominated wrestling in Virginia from the 1950s to the 1970s. 

Billy Martin Sr. recruited Taylor from physical education class to join the wrestling team in its early years. Taylor graduated in 1953 after winning two state titles and upsetting a defending AAU champion, which was one of Martin’s favorite memories of him. Taylor then wrestled at Virginia Tech where he won three Southern Conference titles and qualified for the NCAA tournament all three years. 

A young lady pulled him back to Peninsula. After marrying his wife Myra, still going strong after 65 years, Taylor was again recruited by Billy Sr. This time, his coach wanted him to start the wrestling program at Norfolk Academy. Taylor was successful and had two Top 10 finishes at the National Prep tournament from 1958 to 1965. He then bequeathed the team to one of his wrestlers, National Prep champion Bill Miller. 

Taylor moved on to Bayside High School, quickly followed by a move to Kempsville High School in 1967 where he started another wrestling program. After leading the Chiefs to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament, he turned the team over to Hall of Fame coach Keith Lowrance, who would win two state team titles. 

Taylor’s career as an educator led him into school administration in 1970 and he advanced to supervisor of industrial arts and technology education, until his retirement in 1996. 

He couldn’t stay away from wrestling, enjoying a stint at officiating and especially guiding his sons – Mike, Chris and Jon – to success and excellence at First Colonial High School. He and Chris became the first father and son in Virginia history to win two state wrestling championships. 

Inducted into the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame in 2005, Taylor, now in his 80s, remains an unofficial presence in wrestling practice rooms. He is now guiding new generations of wrestlers, who have heard his booming voice shout “elbow deep” as they sunk in their half nelsons. Taylor’s latest group of wrestlers includes his grandsons, Chris Jr. and David Wesley, and his great grandsons.