Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday honored champion cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor — posthumously — with the Distinguished Hoosier Award.
The Major Taylor Association calls him the world’s first Black sports superstar. Born in Indianapolis in 1878, Taylor set 20 world records at a time when cycling was a hugely popular sport.
Taylor’s great-granddaughter, Karen Brown Donovan, accepted the award in a ceremony at the Statehouse.
“My grandmother would have been thrilled for her father to receive this award because, at her core and in her heart, all she ever wanted was for people to know Major’s life story and his remarkable achievements that began here in Indiana,” she said.
WTIU featured Taylor this year in a documentary called “Major Taylor: Champion of the Race.” It aired in numerous markets nationwide.
