Robert Earl Taylor (born April 29, 1953) is an American former sprinter.At the 1975 Pan American Games, Taylor was a member of gold medal winning 4 × 400 m relay team and won the AAU championships in 400 m in 1977.Taylor came third in the 400 meters at the 1977 IAAF Athletics World Cup in Düsseldorf whilst representing the USA.
By virtue of this, he was part of a controversy as the race was re-run the day after the first run because Alberto Juantorena (of Cuba representing the Americas) lodged a successful protest that he had not been able to hear the starter's gun in the first race.Taylor was ranked as one of the best 400 m runners in 1976 and 1977.