by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Dean Taylor, known as the “Father of Sartell football,” died at age 70 on April 14 at the Country Manor Health and Rehab Center in Sartell.
Tributes from saddened fans are pouring in for the beloved coach and teacher of history and social studies at Sartell High School. During his career, Taylor’s legendary status locally includes his tenure as the first and long-time football coach at Sartell High School, as a teacher and, in later years, as a coach at St. John’s University and Cathedral High School.
Taylor was widely known for the powerful, positive effects he had on the lives of his hundreds of students and athletes. A “Celebration of Life” was held in honor of Taylor and his family on April 17 in the Sartell High School gymnasium.
Born June 20, 1945, in Faribault, Taylor grew up on a farm near Elysian and graduated from Waterville/Elysian High School. At Mankato State University, he played football and graduated with a post-graduate degree from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis.
He married Kathryn Knish on Oct. 10, 1964, in Waterville, and they loved to work with young people – supporting them, encouraging them at every turn – attending their football games and keeping up personal contacts through the decades.
Taylor was the first football and baseball coach when Sartell High School opened as part of its own voter-authorized school district in 1969.
Taylor taught at Truman High School from 1967-69 before landing the job at Sartell High School. After 30 years of coaching and teaching, he retired in 1999, but kept extremely busy with the sport he so loved: football. He helped with coaching at SJU and Cathedral.
Taylor was a member of the Minnesota State High School League Coaches’ Association, where he was honored as a member of its Hall of Fame. He was also named a member of the Minnesota Football Coaches’ Hall of Fame.
He and his wife relished their ongoing relationships with students and athletes, present and past. They also loved spending time with their grandchildren and beloved dogs Dixie, Dusty and Annie.
The Taylors have two children: Steve (wife Shelly) of St. Cloud; and daughter Kristi (husband Todd) Steil of Cold Spring. They have six grandchildren: Brittany, Alexandra, Megan, Sam, Jack and Will.
During the last years of his life, Taylor courageously battled cancer and side effects of diabetes. Through those battles he amazed others by his stoic suffering and his good cheer.
