WHP 580, The River 97.3 and iHeartRadio are deeply saddened to share that our valued team member, JC Floyd has experienced the loss of his beloved father, Homer Floyd. During this difficult time, we extend our heartfelt condolences, support, and sympathy to JC and his loved ones.
We ask you to keep him in your thoughts and offer kindness and understanding.
We kindly ask you take a moment to read the incredible story of Homer Floyd in PENN LIVE (click here to read article)
Together, we wish JC comfort and peace.
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Homer C. Floyd, a prominent civil rights leader and former Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), passed away on Monday (June 9) at the age of 89. Floyd died at the Brookdale Harrisburg senior living home in Susquehanna Township, Pennsylvania.
Floyd served as the Executive Director of the PHRC from 1970 until his retirement in 2011, making his 41-year tenure the longest in the agency's history. Under his leadership, the PHRC expanded its reach and strengthened protections under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Floyd's work focused on fighting discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public accommodation. According to PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, "Homer Floyd was a moral giant whose voice and vision shaped civil rights enforcement in Pennsylvania for more than four decades."
Before his time at the PHRC, Floyd was active in the national civil rights movement, advocating for fair housing, school integration, and equal pay for women. He even shared the stage with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Floyd's legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to justice and equality, inspiring change across Pennsylvania and beyond.
The PHRC expressed its condolences to Floyd's family, friends, and all whose lives he touched. His impact on civil rights will continue to guide the Commission's work. Commissioner Michael Hardiman, who served as Chief Counsel during Floyd's tenure, noted, "His strategic brilliance and moral clarity shaped how the PHRC responded to discrimination and injustice."
Homer Floyd College Legacy:
Homer Floyd was a standout football player at the University of Kansas, where he played as a halfback for the Kansas Jayhawks. He was a trailblazer both on and off the field, becoming KU football’s first African-American captain. His leadership helped break racial barriers in Lawrence, Kansas, during a time when segregation was still prevalent.