in a Q & A session during the Major Taylor program.
(Photo: Roger Wallette)
Retro Image Apparel, a Portland-based clothing company that specializes in designing licensed artwork into bike jerseys, will launch a local chapter of the Major Taylor Education Program.
Roger Mallette, founder and director of Retro/Micro Beer Jerseys, launched the Major Taylor Education Program in Chicago in 2007. Mallette recently approached the Trail Blazers Boys and Girls Club in North Portland and a host of other partners to get the program started here in Portland. In addition to the Boys and Girls Club, Retro’s partners on the project include John Bennenate, Director of Bicycles and Ideas for Kids’ Empowerment (B.I.K.E., a local non-profit youth racing team), Kirk Whiteman Coaching (KWC), and River City Bicycles.
Marshall “Major” Taylor (Wikipedia) was a major bike racing champion during the turn of the 19th century; but his legacy is not always remembered in American history books. A world record holder and former World Champion in 1899, he died penniless in 1932 after spending his last days living at a YMCA in Chicago. Here’s more about the youth education program (taken from a press release) that now bears his name:
“The principle thrust of the program is to create more awareness of not only Taylor’s luminous career but also his ideals and values concerning hard work and perseverance. Additionally, Retro and its partners recognize that cycle racing is not highly accessible to Black American youth and holds a vision to create connections to coaching and competitive racing in Portland.”
The program will launch at 4:00 PM on Friday, February 18th at the Trail Blazers Boys and Girls Club (5250 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd) in North Portland. For more information contact Roger Mallette, roger [at] retroimageapparel [dot] com.