An 86-year-old African-American man named Hurl Taylor has proven that learning truly has no age limit after graduating from Emory University with a Master of Business for Veterans (MBV), earning his ninth academic degree.
His remarkable achievement also made him the oldest graduate in his class and one of the most inspiring lifelong learners in Emory’s history.
Taylor's Story and How He Did It
Born and raised in Virginia, Taylor’s early life was shaped by strong family and faith values. His mother, a Methodist, and his grandmother, a Baptist, instilled in him the importance of service and community.
“Even at an early age, I saw the church helping people in the community. So it just became natural: if you’ve got some knowledge, then use that knowledge to help people,” Taylor recalled.
He said in an interview with Emory News that this mindset became the foundation of a lifelong commitment to both education and service.
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Taylor’s first major milestone came after serving as a combat veteran in the Vietnam War. When he returned home after the war, he chose to pursue law.
This decision made him start a journey at Emory University in the 1980s. First, he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1985, after which he proceeded to earn another Master’s degree in Litigation in 1986, both from Emory’s School of Law.
In 2016, driven by his faith and a desire to give back, he returned to complete a Master’s degree n Religion and Public Life (MRPL) at Emory’s Candler School of Theology, once again graduating as the oldest student in his set.
Now, nearly 40 years after his first degree, Taylor has earned his fourth degree from Emory University, a Master of Business for Veterans (MBV) from the Goizueta Business School, making him part of the program’s inaugural graduating class.
He stated that returning to school at 86 was not without its challenges. Taylor admitted he had never owned a computer before enrolling in the MBV program. So, watching his younger classmates effortlessly use tablets and laptops made him realize he had much to learn.
“I watched how my classmates brought out all these fancy iPads — and I was just amazed. I told myself, I’m going to learn from these folks,” he said.
With patience, humility, and help from his peers, Taylor adapted quickly, mastering digital tools that became essential for his coursework.
Beyond stacking up degrees, Taylor’s educational purpose was also to serve others. As a lawyer, he spent years providing free legal aid for homeless veterans, establishing a legal clinic during his time as a professor at John Marshall Law School in Atlanta.
Later, as a theology student, he volunteered with youth prisoners, mentoring them and helping them find new direction.
“I was working with my church and interacting with a lot of incarcerated youth. They asked me difficult questions, and I didn’t have all the answers; that’s why I went back to study religion,” Taylor said.
This deep sense of purpose has remained constant throughout his journey, using every degree to empower others.
Now “semi-retired,” as he describes himself, Taylor plans to use his new knowledge to assist small businesses in his community with licensing, compliance, and business planning. He also runs his own ventures and remains an active mentor for younger professionals.
“My curiosity is piqued by pure observation and listening. You learn as much from how people interact as you do from any textbook,” he said. Also, he states that he still has plans to earn more degrees.
“If you offer a program that I like, look out — you’ll have a hard time keeping me away. Maybe a nursing degree next, so I can take care of myself as I get older,” he said.
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