Dr. Elson Floyd was a friend, a visionary and a true leader who strongly believed in the land-grant mission. An example of one of his many accomplishments is the specialty crop research team he oversaw during the past eight years, which will continue to have an enormous influence for years to come on the department and the college.
Dr. Floyd helped us to build something truly special, a unique partnership with the tree fruit industry in the state. This led to one of the largest donations to WSU in its history, which is helping the college to create five endowed professorships.
While this was happening, Dr. Floyd empowered the Department of Horticulture to attract not only the best and the brightest researchers in the world but also to compete for local and federal funding, which has increased nearly ten-fold.
Dr. Floyd will be sorely missed and we will keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
— Joe Poovaiah, Regents Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Horticulture