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Kansas Football Mourns Passing of Homer Floyd
6/18/2025 2:00:00 PM | Football
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Former Kansas Football trailblazer and team captain Homer Floyd passed away on Monday, June 9 at the age of 89.
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Floyd, a member of the Kansas football team from 1955-58, started all 30 games of his career on offense and defense. As a sophomore in 1956, Floyd led the Jayhawks in rushing for the first time, carrying 134 times for 638 yards. Floyd would lead the team in rushing in 1957 (127 att., 505 yds) and 1958 (103 att., 391 yds), earning All-Conference honors as a senior and was named Co-Captain in 1958.
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Floyd graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas and contributed to Fisk University and Washburn University.
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Floyd was drafted in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, before playing one season in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos. Floyd went on to dedicate a 41-year career as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) from 1970 until 2011. His 41-year tenure remains the longest in the agency's history and marked a transformative era for civil rights enforcement in the Commonwealth. Under his leadership, the PHRC expanded its reach, strengthened protections under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and responded vigorously to incidents of discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public accommodation.
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Before joining the PHRC, Floyd was active in the national civil rights movement, fighting for fair housing, school integration, racial desegregation efforts, equal pay for women, and more. Floyd served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights and served as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington D.C. On January 19, 1968, Floyd shared the stage with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This would be Dr. King's last speech to a college audience.
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Floyd arrived at Kansas from Washington high school in Massillon, Ohio, joining his high school coach Chuck Mather. While at Massillon, the Tigers went 29-1, capturing the Ohio State Championship and National Championship in 1952 and 1953. Floyd was named Stark County Player of the Year and First Team All-Ohio running back in 1954. Floyd is a member of the Massillon Wall of Champions and the Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
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Homer leaves to cherish and honor his memory his three children, JC Floyd, Cheryl L. Floyd-Brown, and Damon B. Floyd; his three grandchildren Jasmyn R., Jordan C., and Jayson B. Floyd; his companion Venease A. Manior-Jones; his son-in-law Charles E. Brown and daughter-in-law Shelley D. Askew-Floyd, and many dear family, friends, and colleagues.
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Floyd, a member of the Kansas football team from 1955-58, started all 30 games of his career on offense and defense. As a sophomore in 1956, Floyd led the Jayhawks in rushing for the first time, carrying 134 times for 638 yards. Floyd would lead the team in rushing in 1957 (127 att., 505 yds) and 1958 (103 att., 391 yds), earning All-Conference honors as a senior and was named Co-Captain in 1958.
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Floyd graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas and contributed to Fisk University and Washburn University.
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Floyd was drafted in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, before playing one season in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos. Floyd went on to dedicate a 41-year career as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) from 1970 until 2011. His 41-year tenure remains the longest in the agency's history and marked a transformative era for civil rights enforcement in the Commonwealth. Under his leadership, the PHRC expanded its reach, strengthened protections under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and responded vigorously to incidents of discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public accommodation.
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Before joining the PHRC, Floyd was active in the national civil rights movement, fighting for fair housing, school integration, racial desegregation efforts, equal pay for women, and more. Floyd served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights and served as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington D.C. On January 19, 1968, Floyd shared the stage with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This would be Dr. King's last speech to a college audience.
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Floyd arrived at Kansas from Washington high school in Massillon, Ohio, joining his high school coach Chuck Mather. While at Massillon, the Tigers went 29-1, capturing the Ohio State Championship and National Championship in 1952 and 1953. Floyd was named Stark County Player of the Year and First Team All-Ohio running back in 1954. Floyd is a member of the Massillon Wall of Champions and the Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
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Homer leaves to cherish and honor his memory his three children, JC Floyd, Cheryl L. Floyd-Brown, and Damon B. Floyd; his three grandchildren Jasmyn R., Jordan C., and Jayson B. Floyd; his companion Venease A. Manior-Jones; his son-in-law Charles E. Brown and daughter-in-law Shelley D. Askew-Floyd, and many dear family, friends, and colleagues.
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