Dale Taylor, 93, has been named grand marshal of the 2024 Urbanna Hometown Christmas Parade.
Taylor, a Deltaville native, moved to Urbanna 35 years ago when he married an Urbanna native, the late Beatrice Payne Taylor. They moved into the home Beatrice grew up in on Howard Street.
Taylor has a long maritime history connected to Middlesex County. His grandfather, Captain David Andrew Taylor, moved to Deltaville in the 1870s from Onancock on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. His grandfather was a “sailing man” who owned and captained freighting schooners.
Dale’s father, Dellie Taylor, worked the water too and he hauled watermelons in the converted to power sailing vessel, Nannie, named after Dale’s grandmother. Dellie and Dale, as a boy, worked the boats until Dellie landed a job with the old Virginia Commission of Fisheries, an early version of Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).
Dale followed in his father’s footsteps by going to work in 1958 for VMRC. He retired in 1991 from the commission. While working for VMRC, Dale received numerous commendations. In 1977, Dale and co-officer Watson Burroughs received statewide recognition when they rescued eight men aboard a sinking tugboat.
Taylor was also honored in 1999 as the honorary captain of the Urbanna Oyster Festival and has been active over the years in supporting the Town of Urbanna. Several years ago, Urbanna Town Council allowed him to build and spruce up the town with nautical wooden images of traditional wooden Chesapeake Bay vessels, that were attached to the town’s street light poles.
Michele Hutton, chairman of the “Enjoy the Christmas Spirit All Day in Urbanna” committee, said “Dale was chosen for his wonderful personality and his many contributions to the town. He always has a smile, a kind word, and a willingness to lend a helping hand. He is Urbanna’s shining star!”
Taylor will be honored by riding in the parade at the event on Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade starts at 7 p.m.
