Darlington School has named the area on the bank of Silver Lake that is home to our nation’s flag in memory of Dr. Elson S. Floyd ('74), the school's first black graduate. Dr. Elson S. Floyd ('74) Legacy Point was dedicated today during a small ceremony held just prior to the Celebration of Life service.
"Dr. Floyd credited Darlington with changing the trajectory of his life, and it is our honor to memorialize him by dedicating something so significant in his honor," said Head of School Brent Bell. "This area is a focal point of the Upper School campus. It is a place where teachers may hold class on a warm spring day, a quiet place for a student to study for that important exam or simply a place for friends to gather to enjoy each other’s company. This tribute is one more way that Dr. Floyd's meaningful legacy will live on here at Darlington."
The plaque at Dr. Elson S. Floyd ('74) Legacy Point reads:
The first African-American graduate of Darlington School, Dr. Elson S. Floyd was admired and respected by his classmates and faculty. A nationally recognized figure in higher education, he was an educator, life-long learner, visionary leader, statesman and a man of honor.
Dedicated September 23, 2015
"Legacy, what is left behind through the actions of a lifetime."
- Anonymous
In attendance at the dedication were Dr. Floyd's mother, Dorothy; his widow, Carmento; his son, Kenneth; his Rome Parents, Guy and Beulah Welch, and their family; his former roommate, Thom Young ('74), and other classmates; Board Chair Linda (Grizzard) Owens ('79); current Elson Floyd Scholars, Hannah Fitzgibbons, Kamren Hall, JD Hull, Matyah Jackson, Treylin Moore, Jiniya Trammell, Ivan Tran, Tijai Whatley and Jamila Wood; and other distinguished guests.
Born and raised in the small, then-segregated town of Henderson, N.C., Dr. Floyd's father was a brick mason and his mother worked in a tobacco factory. Neither had graduated from high school but they knew the value of a good education and wanted more for their sons.
Dr. Floyd earned a scholarship to attend Darlington School and enrolled as a boarding student in August of 1972. Once he arrived on campus, he quickly became involved in all aspects of campus life. A three-sport athlete, he was co-captain of the football team and a member of the track and basketball teams. He was also president of the “Y” Cabinet, president of Student Council, vice president of the Explorers, vice president of the Honor Council, and participated in many social school activities, including Advisory Committee and Social Committee. A leader among his peers, he was even voted “Class Favorite."
After graduating from Darlington, Dr. Floyd went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Speech, a Master of Education in Adult Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher and Adult Education, all from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Prior to his appointment as the first black president of Washington State University in 2007, Dr. Floyd served as president of the University of Missouri System and of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. He also held numerous administrative positions at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and at Eastern Washington University. Click here to read more about his distinguished career.
A lifelong supporter and advocate for Darlington School, Dr. Floyd was a former trustee, a Visitor Emeritus, a Distinguished Alumnus, and a member of the Second Century Campaign’s National Campaign Cabinet. A scholarship endowed in his honor through the Second Century Campaign is awarded annually to minority students of all ethnicities who possess strong character and leadership skills.
Dr. Floyd passed away in June due to complications from cancer.
Click here to listen to an audio story from 2010 in which Dr. Floyd talks about the school's impact on him.
Click here to read "Darlington School mourns the loss of Elson Floyd ('74), first black graduate and lifelong friend," which was published on Darlington's website in June.
Click here to read a press release announcing Darlington's Celebration of Life service in honor of Dr. Floyd.
