Tayler became a household name when a late surge saw him claim the 10,000m gold medal at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games.
As a former boarding student at Timaru Boys’ High School (TBHS), he thought it a fitting way to mark the half-centennial of the race to donate it to his old school last year.
When speaking to The Courier last year about the 50-year anniversary of the Christchurch Commonwealth Games and his desire to donate the medal, Tayler said he wished for it to be in a place where he had been inspired himself.
"I spent a lot of time looking at the history of the old boys and the medals of Pat Boot and Jack Lovelock, so for me to be able to have mine in there will be very special.
"I never thought one day I’d have a medal in there.
"It was nice being a boy from South Canterbury and carrying on the tradition of Boot, Lovelock and Timaru Boys’ High."
TBHS Rector Dave Thorp said it was wonderful for the school to have been asked to be the custodian of the medal.
"It’s Dick’s treasure and we will treat it that way, as treasure, as a taonga because it’s part of our story.
"The boys really appreciated it when Dick turned up and told us all his stories and told us about that great day.
"He also opened the Lovelock refurbishment for us which was just great.
"He’s a much-loved old boy and we are very proud of him."
