'Big John' Floyd

C.W. "John" Floyd is one of the Founders of Record. Floyd and Bill Shuffield are believed to have been the guiding force behind the formation of the Red Shirts in 1934-35. Floyd, Shuffield, and Floyd's younger brother Dave were all graduates and standout football players from Nashville, Ark. Not surprisingly, most of the early Red Shirts were involved with varsity athletics, and many of them hailed from southern Arkansas. "John" Floyd -- he apparently hated his given names -- was born May 28, 1913, in Nashville, Ark., the son of David Sam and Effie Olivia Williams Floyd. He was a star athlete for the Nashville Scrappers, and continued his athletic excellence after he enrolled at Ouachita College in Fall 1931 at the age of 18. As a freshman tackle, Floyd weighed in at 230 pounds, huge by the standards of the day. However, despite his size, he was extremely fast for a lineman. He was immediately a standout, and was named to the all-state collegiate football team as a freshman. He was, in fact, named all-state in 1931, 1932, 1933, and 1934. On the 28-man Tiger squad of 1932-1933, Floyd was the only man listed at over 200 pounds, weighing in at 215. He captained the 1933-34 Tigers. Picking up five pounds for the 1934-35 season, Floyd was again named captain. Wearing number 42, he was a dominant force at tackle and fullback. The 1934-35 Tigers, although plagued by key injuries, clawed their way through a grueling season. They defeated arch-rival Henderson 7-0 in a muddy slugfest to clinch the state championship and end the season -- and Floyd's collegiate career. A Floyd pass reception and carry set up the only touchdown. Catching the ball on the Reddie 5-yard-line, he carried three Reddies and the ball over the goal line. However, an official ruled that forward progress had been stopped at the 3-yard-line. On the next play, another Red Shirt charter member, James "Zebe" Perry, scored behind Floyd's blocking, giving the Tigers the win, their first over Henderson since 1931. Floyd was unanimous choice for captain of the state all-state team. He entered Ouachita's athletic hall of fame as only the second Tiger football player to be chosen for four consecutive all-state squads. At the December 14, 1934 athletic banquet honoring the football team, Floyd received a wristwatch. His jersey, No. 42, was retired, and his letter sweater was placed among the trophies in the trophy room. Besides his football honors, Floyd was also a state track and field star all four years at Ouachita. He set a state discus record in Spring 1934 that lasted nearly 40 years. Sports cartoons depicting Floyd appeared in several state newspapers of the era. He was selected Best Athlete by the student body and was president of the "O" Association in both 1934 and 1935. He was also all-academic his four years at Ouachita, graduating with an A.B. degree in mathematics in 1935 at the age of 21. After graduation, Floyd returned to Ouachita briefly as an assistant football coach and math instructor. Soon after, he tried out for and was signed to the Boston Redskins (later the Washington Redskins) of the National Football League. The Redskins were the football powerhouse of the day, first winning the East Division in 1936 and then becoming national champions in 1937. It's said Big John Floyd left pro football because he was homesick for Nashville. His friends said he quit after he learned that Easterners didn't know about cornbread, black-eyed peas and greens. Returning home to Nashville, Floyd worked as a peach broker in the famous Nashville peach orchards. He later owned and operated his own service station. He married June Stephenson and had two sons, Chaney Floyd (named after teammate and fellow Red Shirt Elmo Chaney, who was killed in World War II) and Bobby Floyd; and three daughters -- Connie Floyd Morris, Diana Floyd Springer and Jill Floyd Stubblefield. He was a member of the Sunset Church of Christ, where he was a deacon. Floyd became seriously ill in 1991. Active Red Shirts visited him in the hospital and presented him with a plaque and a blazer crest as mementoes. Family members said he proudly showed them off to all of his visitors. C.W. "John" Floyd died Tuesday, March 19, 1991 at Nashville. He was bured Thursday, March 21, 1991 in Restland Memorial Park. John Floyd will forever live in the memories of Red Shirts as our honored Founder. He was the epitome of a Red Shirt, and he will never be forgotten.