Richard L. Floyd

 
 Dr. Richard L. Floyd of College Station,Texas passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on March 21, 2024, at Scott and White hospital in College Station, after a brief illness.
  
 Born on November 13, 1944, in Robinson, Illinois, Rick attended public schools in Robinson, playing basketball and baseball. During his freshman year in high school, he met Katy (Kay Tilton), his future wife and life partner.  He graduated from Robinson High School in 1962, pursued higher education at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, transferred to Illinois State University because, as he told it “Engineering just wasn’t hard enough for him” and, earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics in 1966. He married his high school sweetheart, Kay, in August of 1966.The couple moved to Ames, Iowa, where Rick earned his PhD in Economics in 1972.
  
 Rick had a diverse and rich professional career.  Early in his career, he was a professor at University of Texas at El Paso and joined the Texas A&M Extension Service as a rural economist in 1974. In 1980, he joined the Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center as an Associate Director.  He was named Director in 1981, spending 12 years in that role making many lifetime friends, both colleagues and students. Rick was also an adjunct professor for Business Administration starting in 1988. 
  
 Rick then moved into administrative roles for the Texas A&M System and Texas A&M University, where he helped establish the Texas A&M University Real Estate Office and became Administrator of Research Park. His final positions were as Executive Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff Emeritus in the Division of Finance, where he was responsible for a wide range of administrative functions. One of his most significant accomplishments was establishing the Office of Contracts Administration – negotiating a wide range of contracts that had great affect across campus. There were also the fun little tidbits that made his career so rewarding, such as welcoming the George Bush Sr. 41st Presidential Library and Museum to campus and working with all of his contacts to get all of the files and boxes secured in a temporary building off-campus, as the building was being constructed. He also brainstormed the name, Traditions, for the golf course. 
  
 Rick felt immense pride in working for Texas A&M. He loved the history and tradition of the university and would not accept the idea of letting down the students. They were always his first priority. He didn't wear an Aggie ring, but he embodied its spirit.
  
 In his off time from problem solving, Rick could be found on the third base line at Olsen Field, fishing on Lake Somerville or the White River, or looking for his golf ball with Katy.
  
 After he retired in 2005, Rick worked on various local committees and boards for Bryan/College Station – including serving on the planning and zoning department, working as a mediator, helping with the development of the landfill just outside of town and, taking a leadership role planning and building the firearms training center for the College Station and Bryan police force, located near the landfill facility. 
  
 Rick is survived by his wife, Kay Floyd, married 57 years and, their children, Austin and Jason Floyd. He is also survived by Austin’s family - wife, Cherie, and their children, Sydney and Jackson; Jason’s family, wife, Susan, and children, Jake, Maddox and Starla; his older sister, Jan Ives and her family; Rick’s niece, KD and husband Cory Nietzel, and their daughter Allison; Rick’s nephews Ty and Canyon Ives; his brother-in-law, Stu Tilton; sister-in-law Martha Thompson; and, Rick’s niece, Jennifer and her husband Pat Kelly, their kids, Shawn, Jamie and Noel; and Rick’s nephew, Glenn Mangel and his kids, Harley and Manny.
  
 Rick is preceded in death by his parents Harvey and Lorene Floyd and his nephew Graydon Ives. 
  
 Rick was well known for his love of his family and his friends. He had a wide-ranging sense of humor. He loved to call his kids and grandkids at the earliest time possible and sing happy birthday in the most awful tone, pitch, and volume and make them laugh.
  
 But, most of all, he loved Katy!  And, everyone, EVERYONE, knew it!  Rick, Dad, Grandpa, Papa, Brother, Friend, we will miss you, but you will not be forgotten!
  
 We would like to thank all the staff, nurses and doctors that have worked with dad over the past years.  We have been blessed with all their talents, knowledge and kindness.