Walking trail honors district supporter

By DEVON COPELAND - dcopeland@thestate.com

Ron Moore’s footprints are all over the Lexington 2 school district.

His presence can be felt in the school additions he championed as chairman of the Facilities Task Force in 2002.

It can be felt through the Brookland-Cayce High School Education Foundation he helped create.

Now the walking trail at Claude A. Taylor Elementary, built earlier this school year, will bear his name.

“We have so many things here that when we walk outside I can look and see how many things he did,” said Don Simmons, Taylor’s physical education teacher.

“He’s not someone that would seek the limelight, but it’s well-deserved.”

Board members voted April 17 to name the paved trail after Moore, who died in November at age 52.

To his family, school officials and community members, Moore’s devotion left an impression.

He co-chaired the Citizens for Lexington II Schools.

He also was a board member of the Brookland-Cayce Athletic Booster Club, was PTA president and board member at Claude A. Taylor Elementary School and served as co-president of Busbee Middle School PTA.

“My husband was very community-minded,” said Debra Moore, his wife of 27 years.

That’s why, she said, Moore would be honored by the recognition.

“We’re very excited. We feel very supported by the district.”

As a member of the Lexington Medical Center Board of Directors, Moore helped secure an $11,000 grant for Taylor Elementary.

Moore continued to be actively involved as he battled brain cancer. He was able to see the completed track before he died.

Simmons said Moore was a firm believer as a medical center board member that “just because we’re a hospital doesn’t mean we just treat people when they’re sick.”

Now he said students, their families and community members will be able to use the track for regular exercise.

Medical Center board members donated $50,000 to the Brookland Cayce High School Education Foundation to endow a scholarship in Moore’s memory.

His family asked that preference be given to former Claude A. Taylor students for the annual scholarship award.

Debra Moore worked as a guidance counselor at the school for eight years. She’s now a mentor at the school.

She said though her children no longer attend the school, they always felt close to the students and staff at the school.

“Ronnie and I loved Claude A. Taylor.”

Reach Copeland at (803) 771-8485.