Campus event to celebrate life of President Elson S. Floyd

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The life and accomplishments of Western Michigan University's sixth president, Dr. Elson S. Floyd, will be celebrated in an event set for 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Floyd, who served as WMU president from 1998 to 2003, died June 20 in Pullman, Washington, after a battle with cancer. He was 59.

Campus colleagues and community friends of the Floyd family as well as the general public are invited to the Dalton Center event. Earlier in the day, there will be a formal ceremony to note the naming of the WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences building for Floyd. Attendance at that ceremony is by invitation only.

Campus community to honor Floyd

The Dalton Center event will feature remarks by WMU's former first lady, Carmento Floyd, as well as WMU President John M. Dunn. The event also includes a performance by the Voices of WMU gospel choir and videotaped comments from campus and community members who will share their personal recollections of the Floyd presidency. Bob Miller, WMU associate vice president for community outreach, will serve as emcee.

WMU was Floyd's first college presidency. Among his major accomplishments was establishment of a new campus for the University's engineering school and a Business Technology and Research Park adjacent to it. In July, the WMU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the engineering facility Elson S. Floyd Hall.

Floyd left WMU in 2003 to become the president of the University of Missouri. In 2007, he was named the 10th president of Washington State University. In September, WSU announced the naming of its new medical school for Floyd, recognizing his role in making that initiative a reality.