The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Complications from colon cancer. Met him once as a freshman. Really liked him. Did a lot for WMU athletics.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...dent-dies/

RIP President Floyd.

(06-20-2015 01:31 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  Complications from colon cancer. Met him once as a freshman. Really liked him. Did a lot for WMU athletics.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...dent-dies/

Damn shame, I really liked him. Thought he did an amazing job at WMU. RIP

Our prayers go to the Floyd family for this terrible news. To die of colon cancer at his young age should not happen. We loved him while he was with us at WMU.

Always proud to be a Bronco, RTB.

I don't know what Dr. Floyd's health maintenance practices were like, but you middle aged men need to get periodic colonoscopies. Talking to a 59 year old friend of mine who's never had one! Great preventative tool.

Can anyone talk about his accomplishments during his time as President. I hear good things but too young to be at wmu at the time

(06-20-2015 03:06 PM)wmu2012 Wrote:  Can anyone talk about his accomplishments during his time as President. I hear good things but too young to be at wmu at the time

That is a great question, I am simply going to answer with memorable events that I can recall. From what I remember, enrollment at Western was an all-time high. Furthermore, for lack of a better word, there was a real swagger and optimism on campus during his presidency.

It was also during this time that the Broncos won two straight MAC West football Championships. Attendance in both years was over 25,000 per game. None of these things may be directly attributable to Dr. Floyd, but I'm sure that his leadership played a role

Back in that era, there was a column in the local paper claiming that Floyd explored Western joining the Big East conference. I talked to a Western head coach who confirmed that for me. While that did not happen, it demonstrates his vision for thinking big.

His time at Western was too short as was his time on earth. I thought he was remarkable and charismatic leader.

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/inde...cart_river

When I was a WMU student in the late '90s, a group of friends and I frequently made road trips to watch the football team (at Florida, Mizzou, Indiana, NIU, Akron, and Marshall for the 1999 MACC, among other trips). More than once, Dr. Floyd came up to us and thanked us for traveling to support the Broncos. He was very easy to talk to, and he was very popular among the student body during his time as WMU president.

RIP, Dr. Floyd. As this news and CMU's Coach Bono's diagnosis remind us this week, cancer continues to impact so many people at far too early an age.

Sad news. I remember at my graduation ceremony (2003), there was a slide show and Dr. Floyd's picture got by far the biggest cheer from the students. This was just after he had left for Mizzou.

Never met the man, but know he was popular during his time at WMU, a breath of fresh air after Haenicke, and active supporter of Bronco athletics.

59 is way too young (speaking as someone who is 61 1/2).

(06-20-2015 01:31 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...dent-dies/

Though much too short, a life well lived. Positively impacted many.

I remember going to football games as a young kid and seeing him walking around Waldo mingling with the general public. I always thought that was neat.

Damn. Why do the good so often die. Young

Thank you everyone. Very interesting reading the memories.

I remember high-fiving and celebrating with Dr. Floyd on the sidelines after the Broncos whipped Leftwich and the Herd at Marshall on a Thursday night in front of a national ESPN audience. He was as passionate about collegiate athletics as he was for the future success of his students, and had a keen understanding of the impact that athletics can have on the overall image of a university. Anybody who knew the man is no doubt feeling utter heartbreak today. RIP, Dr. Floyd. You were a true leader and an even better human being.

Drwi. Floyd while at WMU started to advance the university in many ways in addition to relating to people on all levels. He was there with we built the indoor football facility, and I know that he and the contractor were the ones that located the Seeyle Center at its present location. It had been planned to be on the hill across Oliver Street, until they discovered that moving the Steam lines would add a million dollars to the project, money that would almost price the facility out of construction. They explored a shorter field than a full 100 yard building and Coach Darnell agreed that they could operate very well with 80 yards. The contractor showed how it could be constructed in its present condition. They had to fight the city as the East Gym was deemed to be "historical" building in Kalamazoo. By leaving the one wall in place they were able to circumvent the hysterical people and thus we ended up with its present location.

For many years the university was not able to utilize the property on Drake Road as the locals thought that it should be preserved in its condition. It was Dr. Floyd that pressed to a solution and through his tireless efforts the university finally was permitted to build there and now we have a world class engineering property there.

I'm sure there are many other stories that I could tell. I do know that he drove the financial personnel at the university with his plans for expansion, but look at all that we have accomplished since. He was a man of vision, great character and a man of action. He was missed when he left.

Always proud to be a Bronco, RTB.

It was his idea to put the Seeley center in the end zone of the stadium. It was originally propose to be on the hill above Oliver and Stadium

(06-20-2015 02:59 PM)BCBronco Wrote:  I don't know what Dr. Floyd's health maintenance practices were like, but you middle aged men need to get periodic colonoscopies. Talking to a 59 year old friend of mine who's never had one! Great preventative tool.

I get one every 5 years, as I have a history of colon cancer in my family.

RIP Dr. Floyd, you will be missed by the WMU family.

I had the honor to meet him before a Bronco football game while on a rare visit to WMU. He was warm, sincere, and loved the university.

Grateful for his contributions and saddened by his passing.

Really liked him!

He left WMU too soon, he could have led WMU for years... but Mizzou needed his leadership.

Very shocked to hear this news.

I talked to him when he first got the job.

He was a man of great character and intelligence.

He will be surely missed.

To die at 59, it's just very sad.

I had another friend recently die of colon cancer before she saw 45.

Heartbroken.