Former ABC30 sports director has new Hall of Fame role

Former ABC30 sports director, broadcaster and author Dan Taylor was officially named the first executive director of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame by the organization’s board of directors last Thursday.

Taylor, a Fresno native and longtime sports personality in the Central Valley, has had two stints on the organization’s board of directors, most recently rejoining the board in October 2023 to assist Selection Committee Chair Pat Ogle and the organization research candidates for upcoming Hall of Fame induction classes.

Taylor said the new position will increase that workload as well as add projects to his to-do list – and he is looking forward to it all.

“One of our great missions and something we’re all very dedicated to is finding ways to inspire future generations to achieve in the same way as the Tom Seavers and the Dutch Warmerdams and those greats who have come out of here in the years past,” Taylor said.

He added that the organization hopes to continue to inspire youth in the community by working with local schools, districts and organizations to be stewards of the Valley; the Hall of Fame recently partnered with Sunnyside High School’s CTE (Career Technology Education) and Video Production Academies to offer hands-on learning opportunities for students.

Located inside the Save Mart Center, the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame opened its home in 2022 and has continued placing heavy emphasis on local student involvement, showcasing tours of its ever-growing exhibits featuring the likes of Fresno area heroes.

Taylor hopes to see the youth of today grow up not only with a place to admire their local athletic heroes, but use that admiration to drive a continued positive attitude about sports in the Valley.

“When I was growing up here I really idolized the sports heroes here,” he said. “Now to be on this side of the role and have a hand in trying to shape how we will continue to inspire young people is really something that I’m looking forward to.”

Taylor has a long career in sports journalism, serving as sports anchor and sports director for ABC30, as well as freelance author, broadcaster and consultant, filing in for play-by-play duties with local organizations such as the Fresno Grizzlies. In 2022 Taylor was invited to Cooperstown, New York to discuss his book Lights, Camera, Fastball: How the Hollywood Stars Changed Baseball (2021) .