Corrections are made in bold.

Sunday was the one-year anniversary of Eastern Police Officer Randy Taggart’s fatal heart attack. Randy was 46 years old when he died in his Casey home – just 10 days short of his birthday.

“He came home and he’d been at work all day,” his daughter Melanie said. “He was qualifying for his (firearm license). He came home and lied down for a nap and he couldn’t get comfortable. He then passed away of a heart attack.”

Taggart worked in the Eastern’s University Police Department since 1996. His duties included patrol and training, but he was also very interested in community policing, Eastern Police Chief Adam Due said.

In remembrance of Taggart, a black granite bench was placed in the lobby of the UPD building. Engraved on the bench is his badge, his portrait, and his years of service. Donna Taggert, Randy’s wife, said the money for the bench was donated in lieu of flowers.

“I can’t even express how much I appreciate that it’s going to be here and that people can remember that he was a part of this office,” Melanie said. “People can see he was a respected man because he took his job seriously and he loved it.”

“He was very dedicated and professional on the job,” Due said.

“Off the job, he was a very genuine person and he took interest in others families and lives.”

Randy and Donna were married in 1979, and it would have been their 28-year anniversary last year.

Donna said she was reluctant when Randy wanted to become a police officer but later realized he wore his uniform and carried the badge with pride.

“He always tried to remind us that he knew what he was doing (at work) and that he was always going to be careful,” Melanie said.

Donna said they were childhood sweethearts. He was a big football fan and he loved rock and roll.

Before becoming a police officer, Randy was an ordained minister.

“He was always there to talk and always there to listen,” fellow UPD officer Ryan Rysinger said.

Donna said the family cherishes the comments that people wrote in his guest books.

“The stories are what keeps us going,” Donna said. “His memory is all over campus. In my heart, he is EIU and everything EIU stands for.”

“Now that I know that people knew who he was, I try to meet those people to hear those stories, to hear something new about him,” Melanie said.

Donna and Randy had two children together, Matt and Melanie- both are Eastern graduates.

“I have learned so much in the past year (about him),” Melanie said. “It’s hard to go day to day, but having so many people remember him makes it easier.”

Melanie earned her bachelor’s degree and is currently in the graduate program for the physical education department.

Her older brother is an Eastern alumnus who works for an insurance company.

Melanie remembers riding to and from campus with her father, fighting over the radio stations. She said one day they heard Josh Turner’s “Long Black Train” three times in a row. The song was later played at his funeral in remembrance of him.

“There were a couple times I would walk through the Union and I would see him,” Melanie said. “I miss those days.”

Melanie keeps her father close by wearing his identification bracelet he gave Donna when they were dating.

Ashlei Maltman can be reached at 581-7942 or at anmaltman@eiu.edu.

Melanie Taggart, a physical education graduate student, tells stories about her father, officer Randy Taggart, while sitting on a bench dedicated in his memory in the University Police Department station Friday afternoon. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern N

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Eastern Illinois University Police Department officer Randy Taggart. Taggart passed away on June 15, 2007 of a heart attack. (Submitted Photo)

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