Campus honors Floyd with community celebration and building naming

KALAMAZOO, Mich—"He was your sixth president, but you were his first presidency and that was huge ... You made a huge difference for Elson, because you sent him on a journey," former WMU First Lady Carmento Floyd told a Dalton Center audience Oct. 16 as members of the campus and Kalamazoo communities gathered to celebrate the life of former Western Michigan University President Elson S. Floyd.

Carmento Floyd and WMU President John M. Dunn were the two speakers on stage for the event that included gospel music and a video that featured the remembrances of people from across southwest Michigan. The latter included the voices of area political business and social leaders as well as former WMU faculty, staff and students.

Earlier in the day, during a private ceremony, WMU's engineering facility was formally dedicated as Elson S. Floyd Hall. A portrait of Floyd that now hangs in that facility also was unveiled with members of his family present.

Floyd was president of WMU from 1998 to early 2003. He went on to serve as president of the University of Missouri and then Washington State University. He died June 20, just two weeks after announcing he would take a medical leave from WSU to focus on his battle with cancer. He was 59.

To watch a recording of the Dalton Center event, visit youtube.com/watch?v=IWoRadhCLIc.

A video featuring remembrances of Dr. Floyd was screened during the event. It can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=1BMaDzg8ClE.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.