WP-ORG Main Image
View a eulogy for Leland Dwight Floyd, USMA '55, who passed away on September 26, 1985.

Leland Dwight Floyd

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jim Ryan on September 10, 2010:

DRAFT MEMORIAL ARTICLE

LELAND DWIGHT FLOYD - '55

No. 20298 (3 September 1929 - 26 September 1985)

Died at Angels Camp, CA Interred at: unknown

Leland (Lee) Floyd was born at Compton, CA just before the 1929 stock market crash and at the very beginning of the long "Great Depression". His parents were John and Hazel (Borbe) Floyd. We know little of his early life but, his father had died by the time Lee graduated from West Point. His mother was living in 1967. After graduation from high school at Lawndale, CA in 1947, Lee briefly attended El Camino College before he entered the Army in July 1948. He served in the Signal Corps for three years separating as a PFC when he entered West Point. During his service time, Lee's assignments included Okinawa and the USMA Preparatory School then at Stewart Field. He was appointed to the Academy by Senator William Knowland (CA). The Prep School's yearbook the Challenge lists his pet peeve as "Sunday morning racket makers," and he was frequently known to say "Why can't I have a pass?"

Lee's entry in the 1955 Howitzer states he initially had a running battle with the Department of Languages (Russian) although he later graduated in the upper half of his class. Most of his free time was devoted to the Radio Club (President) and Pistol Team (Treasurer). Pistol was his forte, so he rather frequently attended the National Pistol Matches. A classmate's eulogy of Lee states, he was "a quiet one" but that Lee not only encouraged him but helped him make the Pistol Team as a first classman.

Upon graduation, Lee received his commission in the Air Force. At graduation, or soon thereafter, he married Eunice Spencer. They were parents of two daughters who were born in Sacramento, CA, a son born at San Antonio, TX and possibly other children. Lee's service record as he reported it in the Register is somewhat limited and unclear: Headquarters, ATRC (1960), Kelly AFB where he was an electronics engineer (1967), RADC (1974), and the Air Force Command and Staff College (1977). It is known he received an MSEE degree from Southern Methodist University in 1965.

Lee retired in 1985 as a Colonel. He passed away at Angel's Camp, CA -- which also happens to be his mother's birthplace -- in September of that same year.

Rest in peace, good classmate and friend.

A Classmate
November 2009

Previous Eulogy   Next Eulogy
admin

West-Point.Org (WP-ORG), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides an online communications infrastructure that enable graduates, parents, and friends of the military academy to maintain and strengthen the associations that bind us together. We will provide this community any requested support, consistent with this purpose, as quickly and efficiently as possible. WP-ORG is funded by the generosity of member contributions. Our communication services are provided in cooperation with the AOG (independent of USMA) and are operated by volunteers serving the Long Gray Line. For questions or comments, please email us at feedback@west-point.org.