Alumni Profile
Aaron A.J. Taylor – Class of 2000
Aaron James Taylor was born in Duluth, March 26, 1982 and raised in Bovey. He could light up a room with his smile and spontaneous wit. As a warrior with a gentle soul, he was artistic, musically talented, and excelled in anything mechanical or electronic. Graduating with honors in 2000 from Greenway High School, he was active in school activities including Pep Band, Jazz Band, Drama, manager of the Greenway Hockey Team, Wrestling Team, winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for his trumpet playing. He attended Hibbing Community College in 2001, where he studied law enforcement. After enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in February 2002 and completing basic training at Camp Pendleton, California, Aaron served in Rota, Spain for two-years with the fleet anti-terrorism support team. He spent time in Vietnam assisting forensic anthropologists in recovery of American soldier remains. Aaron’s next assignment was at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for training in Explosive Ordinance Disposal or E.O.D and then transferred to Okinawa Japan and stationed at Kadena Air Force Base. While in Okinawa he was deployed to Iraq and stationed at Al Asad Air Base. Aaron trained with the FBI and Secret Service in E.O.D. February 2009 he was assigned to assist the Secret Service security detail during President Obama’s visit to Chicago. He was then deployed in September 2009 to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, where he was serving in Operation Enduring Freedom with the Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 E.O.D. Aaron was killed in combat in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Oct. 9, 2009. For his ultimate sacrifice, Aaron was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, and Bronze Star with Combat V. He was also awarded a Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, International Security Assistance Force NATO Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with a Bronze Star, as well as a Navy and Marine Corps Oversees Service Ribbon. A memorial flag pole and flag, provided through the Flags for Fallen Military Program, was erected in his honor at the Hodgins-Berardo Arena in Coleraine. The U.S. Marine Corps has named a large expeditionary airfield located in Southern Afghanistan, in his honor. Lt. Col. Matt Puglisi described Aaron has having a special quality, he was smart, articulate, and the type of leader other Marines wanted to be around. Of the 750 in his squadron, Sgt. Taylor was the only soldier to lose his life during the seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.
Trivia
Remember When:
Itasca Junior College was located on the top floor of the high school
Felosi Drug, across from the high school, sold 25¢ Malt of Plenty, and the “graveyard” drinks
1944 Bovey Bottling Works offered De. Wells and Spiffy Cola for 5¢
The “Little Brown Jug”
Run my Good Sheep Run
Captain May I?
Roller skates with a key
Zip Adams had a barber shop in Coleraine
All the girls wore dresses and skirts and the boys tucked their shirts in their pants AND wore belts
1964 the Beatles Invasion!
Coached by Mr. Dave Braaten, the 1984 Basketball team was District 28 Champs
1983-84 Volleyball team, coached by Karen Tomberlin, was State Consolation Champs
In 1924, H.W. Dutter was Principal of Greenway and Dean of Itasca Junior College, J.A. Vandyke was Superintendent
Greenway was School District Number 2 in 1944, Superintendent was H.W. Dutter, and R.J. Scofield was High School Principal
1954 was the first year for Greenway Baseball, coached by Mr. Dixon, they had a good season of 6 wins and 3 losses
1964 Mr. Donald Huesers is Superintendent, Mr. Joe Burich, Asst. Superintendent, and Mr. David O. Demarais was High School Principal
1964 The Letterman’s Club requested the Greenway football field to be named for Mr. Dixon, who dedicated his career to the GHS students, following his death in November of 1963
1964 Ford Mustang rolls off the assembly line and is introduced to the world
Alumni Update
Jukebox Hit Parade
1944
- Swinging on a Star – Bing Crosby
- Mairzy Doats – Merry Macs
- Is You or Is You Ain’t? – Andrew Sisters
1954
- Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley & The Comets
- You Done Me Wrong – Fats Domino
- Earth Angel – Penguins
1964
- I Want to Hold Your Hand – Beatles
- Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
- Leader of the Pack – Shangri-Las
1974
- Call Me – Chicago
- Oh Very Young – Cat Stevens
- Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce
1984
- When Doves Cry – Prince and The Revolution
- Pink Houses – John Cougar Mellencamp
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
1994
- The Sign – Ace of Base
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
2004
- First Cut is the Deepest – Sheryl Crow
- My Bad – Alicia Keys & Usher
- American Soldier – Toby Keith
