THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT
Homer C. Floyd 1936-2025 Affirmative Action Champion, Governmental Administrator
R egarded as the “Dean of Civil Rights in Pennsylvania, Homer C. Floyd (Mu 1957) entered Chapter Invisible on June 9, 2025 at age of 89. From 1970 to 2011, Brother Floyd was the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Human Rela- tions Commission (PHRC) which was responsible for directing the enforcement of the civil rights laws for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which includes the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and the Penn- sylvania Fair Educational Opportunity Act. Brother Floyd was born on May 23, 1936 in Wetumpka, AL, to the late Homer C. and Annie R. Floyd. He graduated in 1955 from Washington High School in Massillon, OH, where he earned “All-State Ohio” honors in football. Floyd attended the Uni- versity of Kansas (KU) on athletic scholarship. He played on the KU Jayhawks football team where he led the Jaywalks in rushing three times (1956-58) and
tackles multiple seasons as a defensive safety. Floyd was KU football’s first African American team. Floyd also earned “All-Big 8” in football his senior year. Floyd is referenced in the 6th Edition of the Story of Kappa Alpha Psi [2023] involving other Mu Chapter members including basket- ball great Wilt Chamberlain (Mu 1957). After graduating from KU, Floyd played professional football with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League and signed with the NFL Cleveland Browns but was cut. After retiring from football, he worked as Recreation Department Supervisor in Kansas City, MO before transitioning to a career in government and human rights advocacy. In 1964, he joined the Kansas Commission then became in 1964 Executive Director of the Topeka Human Relations Commission. Floyd went to Washington, DC. to assist in the preparation of rules, regulations, procedures and
training programs for the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 1965, he became Execu- tive Director of the Omaha Human Relations Board. Brother Floyd was the Executive Director of the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights (1966- 1970). He also served as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Washington, DC), serving North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. In addition, he served as a consultant to the Government of the Virgin Islands before leading the PHRC. A Life Member of the Kappa Alpha Psi, he was a member of the Harrisburg (PA) Alumni Chapter where he led as polemarch (1978-1980). Floyd was also a member of the NAACP, National Association of Human Rights Workers, Kansas University Alumni Association, Board of Directors of the Tri-County Volunteer Action Center, the Harrisburg Chapter of the
National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, and AARP. Brother Floyd served on numerous Boards and Commissions including, International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, Samuel L. Abrams Foundation Board, Penn- sylvania Housing Advisory Committee, Tri-County United Way, Harrisburg Area YMCA. He has served on the Governor’s Affir- mative Action Council, the Governor’s Housing Task Force, and the Susquehanna Manpower Development Corporation. He was a past Chair of the Central Pennsyl- vania Advisory Board to the United Negro College Fund Brother Homer C. Floyd
was preceded in death by his wife, Mattie M. (Longshore) Floyd. He is survived by his three
children, JC Floyd, Cheryl L. Floyd-Brown, and Damon B. Floyd; his three grand- children Jasmyn R., Jordan C., and Jayson B. Floyd; and his companion Venease A. Manior-Jones.. ♦
FALL 2025 ♦ THE JOURNAL 91
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