Steven Walker Floyd

Steven W. Floyd (72), a distinguished professor of management, died October 18th at his home after a brief illness. Dr. Floyd was a leading scholar in the areas of strategy process and change. During his career he published more than one hundred research articles and scholarly books. He was an active member of the Academy of Management, the Strategic Management Society, the Society for the Advancement of Management Studies, and other professional associations. As significant as his own research, Steve made important contributions as a journal editor, reviewer, and mentor. Indeed, Steve's greatest professional legacy may be the dozens of doctoral students and junior faculty he unselfishly nurtured and mentored. At the time of his death, Steve was working with, and mentoring students of his former students, helping them launch their careers and build the pipeline of the next generation of management scholars. As one of his former doctoral students commented, "He was beyond just an advisor. He was a life mentor to me. We shared a love and commitment towards family, nature, travel, and would spend considerable amounts of time talking about those things. His warmth and consideration as a human being and his abundant energy towards life inspired me to become like him, now and always."

Steve was born in Phoenix, AZ on February 2, 1950. His Father Morris, served in the Airforce during World War II and was a POW survivor. Morris died in 1952. His Mother, Beuna "Boots," a church administrator, married his stepfather, Raymond Reed, a career officer in the Airforce in 1960. As part of a military family, Steve spent his formative years at various military bases both in the U.S. and Europe where he developed fluency in German. He graduated from Folsom High School in Folsom California in 1968 and earned his BA (with honors) in philosophy from the University of Houston in 1972.

On May 19, 1973, Steve married Beverly Weaver (nee) and her two young children, James and Aaron, who he adored and raised as his own. Together, the family embarked on a lifelong journey that began with the birth of their third son, Steve, Jr. They relocated to Virginia where Steve worked for the Department of Labor and, taking advantage of his carpentry skills, eventually co-founded and successfully operated a furniture making company.

In 1976 the family relocated again, this time to Boulder Colorado. Steve entered the MBA program at the University of Colorado, graduating in 1978. Following his MBA, Steve served as the President of Industrial Industries, Inc., a manufacturing firm in Houston, TX. While successful as a business executive, Steve kept reflecting on the multiple professors who had encouraged him to get a PhD and enter academia. A natural scholar, Steve left his position in industry and earned his PhD in Management from the University of Colorado in 1986.

During his career Professor Floyd held faculty positions at Old Dominion University, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Twice), University of Connecticut, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and University of Virginia. At the time of his retirement, he held a chaired position as the Isenberg Professor of Management at the Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst.

Steve was also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He coached his son's basketball teams and being an avid skier, taught the boys how to ski at very young ages. He spent countless weekends on the ski slopes of Colorado with his wife, sons, and family friends. He became a father figure to many of his sons' friends, helping them build a skateboard ramp and even a snowboard slope in the backyard. Kids were always welcome at the Floyd house.

He was also an avid traveler, outdoor and fitness enthusiast, and musician. He played basketball and performed in a rock band during high school and pursued rock climbing as a young adult. He ran10ks and marathons; enjoyed skiing, sailing, cycling, tennis, hiking, and windsurfing. He loved weightlifting and working out. Together, he and Beverly saw the world on their numerous and frequent excursions.

During his final years Steve battled Parkinson's disease with the same intellectual curiosity he brought to his profession. Never one to complain, he studied the medical literature, reading everything he could find, eventually becoming a self-taught expert on the disease and its treatment. With self-discipline, determination, and courage he "fought the good fight," still taking kick-boxing classes in the last months of his life.

Beyond all this, Steve will perhaps best be remembered by all who knew him as a kind, warm, and generous soul. In the words of a former colleague - "He was the most humble and non-judgmental person I've ever known. He never had an unkind word for anybody. A true Gentleman. A real scholar".

Steve was preceded in death by his mother Beuna "Boots" Reed, fathers Morris Floyd and Raymond Reed, brother Patrick Reed and daughter in law Adri Brongers. He is survived by his wife Beverly, his three sons - James, Aaron, his wife Hannah, and Steve Jr. and his partner Adriana Vega. Steven leaves six grandchildren: Dominic McKinney, Ella, Coral, Jamie, and Corrine Floyd and Annabella Mackler. He is also survived by siblings Morris Floyd & Alex Herrera, Kiki and Larry House, Ray and Tish Reed and Kelley and Bill Peck.

In lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. ( https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/421686/#!/donation/checkout)