The September 26 issue of this column featured (yet) another call and plea for greater city recognition for Dundee’s greatest-ever Olympian.
Several family and friends rallied round to support my cause and there were a few replies from readers, too.
Moira Buchanan said she knew the McTaggart family and they were all very proud of Dick when he won his Olympic and Commonwealth medals.
“There should be a statue of him right in the middle of the city square,” she said.
Peter Morgan, of Kirkton, phoned to say: “If someone from Dundee won an Olympic gold medal these days, the place would go ‘ape’.
“My family were all boxing fans and often spoke of Dick’s achievements.
“We were all happy at the time to see a sports centre — the Dick McTaggart Centre on Old Glamis Road — named after him but, as you pointed out, it is now used for gymnastics.
“Some other formal note of recognition must be found, and his legacy must be there for generations of Dundonians to enjoy.”
Billy Donaldson was also forthright in his call, saying: “It seems every Tom, Dick and Harry has got a stone, slab or a corner on the new Waterfront.
“I think they have missed a trick with Dick.”
Then came an email from our Canadian friend Rob Boag.
Being very complimentary, he offered: “I just caught up with your excellent column from September 26 on Dick McTaggart.
“I say it is the most profound article you have created in all the years I have been a follower of your work.
“Politicians are, of course, impervious to their shallowness and lack of embarrassment.
“However, you must have made a few of them uncomfortable with your layout of the many Dundee councils’ dereliction of responsibility to honour an Olympian and citizen of their city.”
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.