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Cable has seen many changes during Taylor’s 46-year career

When Larry Taylor started working in cable, the station he worked at had only eight channels. “But people would tell me all the time, ‘How could I possibly have time to watch that many channels,’” he laughed.  “Now customers want 500 channels.”

From customers, to technology to day-to-day operations, Larry has seen an industry change, advance and transform again several times over in his 46-year-career.

Earlier this month, Larry, who works as a headend technician for TDS, was inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame of the Southwest Cable Communications Association (SWCCA).

Barbara Mick, manager of Field Cable Marketing, nominated Larry to the Hall of Fame and said it was a privilege to introduce him that evening.

“Larry has been responsible for all aspects of what it takes to run a cable operation. From negotiating franchise agreements, overseeing system upgrades and rebuilds, maintaining head ends, and leading teams,” said Barbara. “He has seen and done it all and that’s not an exaggeration.”

Barbara said she has had the “pleasure of working with Larry since 1997,” when he came on board with American Cable Entertainment. “He is a wealth of knowledge and goes above and beyond to support whatever is needed in the day to day operations. Larry is greatly respected by his peers.”

Barbara introduced Larry to the crowd as “Larry ‘OUR Cable Guy’ Taylor.”

Larry began his career as a cable installer in Tucumcari, N.M. in February of 1972. He advanced in his career and moved to Newport Beach, Calif., where he worked as a foreman and chief technician.

He moved back to Tucumcari to work as the general manager at Teleprompter Cable TV, which was later acquired by Century Cable TV. For the next 12 years in worked as a plant manager in Farmington, N.M. and as a general manager in Hobbs, N.M.

There were several acquisitions that took place between 1997 and he settled in Truth or Consequences, N.M. with Baja Broadband and last, but not least, TDS Telecom.

Larry and his wife Darlene (left) and his daughter.

When Larry first started, he said, there were no computers, everything was handwritten. We had stacks of handwritten orders. With the advent of computers, “everything has gotten easier” and the equipment is much improved.

“I’ve had the flexibility of doing everything, including working the lines and customer service. It’s been an enjoyable career for me,” Larry said he feels “lucky that I found what I liked and I kept doing it.”

Being inducted to the Pioneer Hall of Fame, Larry said, is a “great honor that I didn’t expect.” In his induction speech he thanked Barbara, who he has known for 20 years, and the SWCCA. “I’m not a speaker, so I didn’t talk long.”

Larry and his wife Darlene have been married 50 years. They have two children and his daughter joined her parents at the induction ceremony. “My daughter has served as our chauffer because she knows how to drive in the big city,” he joked. “We all had a great time.” The award was presented in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The SWCCA serves both Arizona and New Mexico. To date, there are 96 members of the SWCCA Pioneer Hall of Fame.

 

 

 



One Response to Cable has seen many changes during Taylor’s 46-year career

  1. Anna Larson March 5, 2018 at 8:29 pm #

    Wow Larry what an impressive career! You have seen and done a lot of hard work for the company!

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