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Picture: Taylor being pinned by his Daughter Naomi Stanford (son Odessa looks on) when he was named police officer earlier in 2025.

Russell Taylor, NTCC Police Officer

In approximately January of 2002, I came out here to sign up for classes. I had moved back into this area with my children from West Texas. In West Texas, I had a good job that I fell into in West, TX, and I thought that for me to get another job like that, I would need a degree—so I came out here. While I was in Student Services applying for classes, someone who knew me (and for whom I had done some work) told me of a maintenance position available. So I asked for an employment application as well.

Around the end of April or beginning of May, I received a phone call from the College asking if I could come in for an interview. We scheduled, and I did. On May 20, 2002, I showed up for my first day on the job in the Maintenance Department. I was a single parent of three children at the time, and they went to Chapel ISD. Being close to them, and my hours being very close to my children's school hours, was ideal for me. So, for the next six-plus years, I worked in Maintenance and also worked for a small security company on the weekends. Later, I moved into Security—covering overtime for the on-campus security while still in Maintenance—and then switched to full-time Security (around 2008 or 2009).

In 2013, the Director of Plant Services asked me if I would serve as Interim Security Coordinator and assist in bringing our Security team up to “armed security.” We did, and the College was gracious enough to give me the Security Coordinator position officially toward the end of that year. I served in that position until 2025, when I moved into a Police Officer position in our newly formed Police Department. While I have been here, not only have I had the opportunity to serve in different positions and work with great people, but I also earned two associate degrees, went through the Police Academy here on campus in 2010, and sent three children through this campus. They earned their associate’s here and later bachelor’s degrees at other campuses, along with my youngest, who is attending at the present time.

I have also been able to watch one of my daughters advance her career here at NTCC, starting as a student worker and presently serving as a Director. NTCC has not only allowed and influenced me in growing in my character, but it has also had a direct, positive impact on all my children’s lives, as well as my niece’s and nephews’. I believe NTCC adds to the economy in the surrounding communities. I lived in West Texas in a small town and saw firsthand how towns can dry up if there is no money moving around in the community.

NTCC provides great job opportunities to the people working here and plays an important role in the career advancement of the students who attend. These employees and alumni enter our surrounding communities—paying for services, buying homes, paying taxes, serving our communities, etc.—helping our surrounding communities to thrive. I consider it a joy and a privilege to have been a part of NTCC, and NTCC being a part of me and my family’s lives.