Remembering Homer C. Floyd
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Asia Tabb
Aired; June 18th, 2025.
Homer C. Floyd, who led the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) for over 40 years, passed away on June 9 at the age of 89. Widely regarded as the “Dean of Civil Rights in Pennsylvania,” Floyd leaves behind a monumental legacy of civil rights advocacy, policy reform, and unwavering dedication to fighting discrimination.
“He was so smooth and always impeccably dressed,” recalled Deven Price, Harrisburg Regional Office Supervisor at PHRC, who worked alongside Floyd for the first seven years of his own career. “He always had something positive to say about people and about the mission to end discrimination.”
Floyd’s civil rights work spanned generations and geography—from helping lead school integration efforts in Kansas in the 1960s to confronting modern-day housing and employment discrimination in Pennsylvania. “When Dr. King was assassinated, he had Mr. Floyd’s name in his jacket pocket,” Price shared. “It says a lot that King saw Homer Floyd as someone to reach out to for his next big move.”
As executive director from 1970 to 2011, Floyd shaped PHRC’s mission to expand protections in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. Price emphasized Floyd’s inclusive vision: “He didn’t just represent African Americans—he represented all people who were underrepresented and underserved.”
Reflecting on his legacy, Price said the most powerful lesson from Floyd’s life is his steadfast commitment to justice: “Longevity, staying committed to what you believe in, what you love to do… always taking the high road, remaining positive, and truly working together with all people to accomplish the goal. That was Mr. Floyd.”