Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, March 28, 2002
Basin civic leader Floyd A. Boyd dies
‘Toad' involved in community groups, farm equipment trade for over 60 years.
Floyd A. Boyd, a man whose name has been associated with farming equipment in the Klamath Basin for more than 60 years, died Wednesday in Klamath Falls.
Mr. Boyd, who was known by friends and business associates alike by his nickname "Toad", was 94.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, Sixth and Pine streets, with Pastor David Bales officiating. Burial will be later at Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens.
He was born Feb. 18, 1908, in Alturas to Robert and Lelah (Griffin) Boyd. He attended school in Alturas before going to Heald Business College in Sacramento in 1926-27.
He and Ruth Jack were married June 12, 1934.
Mr. Boyd began his business career working at the J.T. Negley Co. general mercantile in Alturas. In 1933 he was put in charge of a satellite store in Tulelake. He moved to the Klamath Basin in a Model T Ford, traveling with Sam Wong, who would become a prominent potato grower and shipper in the Klamath Basin.
In 1940 he became a partner in the Tulelake store, which included an International Harvester dealership. The firm was renamed Floyd A. Boyd Co.
In the early years of his career, when many farmers were buying their first tractor, Mr. Boyd took teams of horses in trade for new tractors. He received about 600 head of horses over a span of about 10 years.
Mr. Boyd began investing in a company in Fresno, Calif., in 1948. In 1956 he moved to Fresno to help manage the business, Allied Equipment Co. The company eventually grew to include five stores and 130 employees.
During this time Mr. Boyd held interest in a farm in Tulelake with his brother, A.G. Boyd.
He turned management of the dealership in Tulelake over to his son, Don Boyd, in 1963. Another son, Jim Boyd, took over the family farm in 1964.
Floyd A. Boyd Co. purchased the International dealership in Klamath Falls from J.W. Kerns in 1965, and in 1973 the stores in Klamath Falls and Tulelake were combined at a new location in Merrill. In 1984 the company switched from International to John Deere products.
The business in Fresno was eventually sold, and Mr. Boyd moved back to the Klamath Basin in 1984 to spend his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd lived in a home on Front Street until moving a few years ago to the Crystal Terrace Retirement Center.
Don Boyd continues to manage the John Deere dealership in Merrill, assisted by his own son, Donnie. Jim Boyd continues to operate the farm.
Even after retirement, Mr. Boyd for many years kept an office at the implement dealership, and retained the title of company president until his death.
Don Boyd said he was always impressed with how his father could keep so many business enterprises going at once.
"He had a great mind. He could figure interest and deals in his head," Don Boyd said. "He always did his own income taxes, and had an accountant review them."
"He was always working with someone on a share deal," Boyd continued. "He told me one time that he had about 30 different partners. And I don't think he ever had a problem with a single partner."
Don Boyd recalled his father telling about one occasion when things didn't go so smoothly.
Mr. Boyd had delivered a horse-drawn manure spreader to a customer near Tulelake, and didn't realize until it was too late that he hadn't assembled it correctly.
"The customer jumped on it and went out to try out his new manure spreader," Don Boyd said. "With the chain on backwards, the manure started flying forward, coming down all over the operator and the horses. And that made the horses bolt. The horses took off and they kept running until the manure spreader was empty."
In his younger years, Mr. Boyd enjoyed body building, and liked to test his strength against carnival wrestlers who challenged local boys.
He also served as a rodeo clown and bull fighter in Klamath, Lake and Modoc counties. He frequently displayed his agility by doing headstands on various objects, including radiator caps, beer bottles and, on one occasion, the rail of a ship.
His favorite pastime was deer hunting.
He helped organize the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair, and was a charter member of the Tulelake Rotary Club.
He served as president of the Modoc Area Council of the Boy Scouts in 1936. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scout council
He served on the board of directors for the Butte Valley State Bank, and on the advisory board for First Western Bank in Dorris. He served as president of the California Equipment Dealers Associatin in 1962. He was chief of the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department for six years.
Mr. Boyd served on the Salvation Army advisory board in Fresno, and was a member of the Fresno State College board of directors. He served on the board for the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and frequently served as a summer camp inspector.
At various times he was active in the Blue Lodge Masons, Order of Eastern Star, Tehran Shrine Temple, Royal Order of Jesters and the Elks Lodge in Fresno.
In April 1999 Mr. Boyd was honored for 60 years of perfect attendance in Rotary. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber declared April 1, 1999, to be Floyd "Toad" Boyd day.
How he received his nickname of "Toad" is unknown, Don Boyd said. In Alturas his best childhood friend was named "Frog" Ballard.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Klamath Falls; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and John Shea of Chico, Calif.; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Sherrill Boyd of Klamath Falls and Jim and Barbara Boyd of Tulelake; eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a grandson
Basin civic leader Floyd A. Boyd dies
‘Toad' involved in community groups, farm equipment trade for over 60 years.
Floyd A. Boyd, a man whose name has been associated with farming equipment in the Klamath Basin for more than 60 years, died Wednesday in Klamath Falls.
Mr. Boyd, who was known by friends and business associates alike by his nickname "Toad", was 94.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, Sixth and Pine streets, with Pastor David Bales officiating. Burial will be later at Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens.
He was born Feb. 18, 1908, in Alturas to Robert and Lelah (Griffin) Boyd. He attended school in Alturas before going to Heald Business College in Sacramento in 1926-27.
He and Ruth Jack were married June 12, 1934.
Mr. Boyd began his business career working at the J.T. Negley Co. general mercantile in Alturas. In 1933 he was put in charge of a satellite store in Tulelake. He moved to the Klamath Basin in a Model T Ford, traveling with Sam Wong, who would become a prominent potato grower and shipper in the Klamath Basin.
In 1940 he became a partner in the Tulelake store, which included an International Harvester dealership. The firm was renamed Floyd A. Boyd Co.
In the early years of his career, when many farmers were buying their first tractor, Mr. Boyd took teams of horses in trade for new tractors. He received about 600 head of horses over a span of about 10 years.
Mr. Boyd began investing in a company in Fresno, Calif., in 1948. In 1956 he moved to Fresno to help manage the business, Allied Equipment Co. The company eventually grew to include five stores and 130 employees.
During this time Mr. Boyd held interest in a farm in Tulelake with his brother, A.G. Boyd.
He turned management of the dealership in Tulelake over to his son, Don Boyd, in 1963. Another son, Jim Boyd, took over the family farm in 1964.
Floyd A. Boyd Co. purchased the International dealership in Klamath Falls from J.W. Kerns in 1965, and in 1973 the stores in Klamath Falls and Tulelake were combined at a new location in Merrill. In 1984 the company switched from International to John Deere products.
The business in Fresno was eventually sold, and Mr. Boyd moved back to the Klamath Basin in 1984 to spend his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd lived in a home on Front Street until moving a few years ago to the Crystal Terrace Retirement Center.
Don Boyd continues to manage the John Deere dealership in Merrill, assisted by his own son, Donnie. Jim Boyd continues to operate the farm.
Even after retirement, Mr. Boyd for many years kept an office at the implement dealership, and retained the title of company president until his death.
Don Boyd said he was always impressed with how his father could keep so many business enterprises going at once.
"He had a great mind. He could figure interest and deals in his head," Don Boyd said. "He always did his own income taxes, and had an accountant review them."
"He was always working with someone on a share deal," Boyd continued. "He told me one time that he had about 30 different partners. And I don't think he ever had a problem with a single partner."
Don Boyd recalled his father telling about one occasion when things didn't go so smoothly.
Mr. Boyd had delivered a horse-drawn manure spreader to a customer near Tulelake, and didn't realize until it was too late that he hadn't assembled it correctly.
"The customer jumped on it and went out to try out his new manure spreader," Don Boyd said. "With the chain on backwards, the manure started flying forward, coming down all over the operator and the horses. And that made the horses bolt. The horses took off and they kept running until the manure spreader was empty."
In his younger years, Mr. Boyd enjoyed body building, and liked to test his strength against carnival wrestlers who challenged local boys.
He also served as a rodeo clown and bull fighter in Klamath, Lake and Modoc counties. He frequently displayed his agility by doing headstands on various objects, including radiator caps, beer bottles and, on one occasion, the rail of a ship.
His favorite pastime was deer hunting.
He helped organize the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair, and was a charter member of the Tulelake Rotary Club.
He served as president of the Modoc Area Council of the Boy Scouts in 1936. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scout council
He served on the board of directors for the Butte Valley State Bank, and on the advisory board for First Western Bank in Dorris. He served as president of the California Equipment Dealers Associatin in 1962. He was chief of the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department for six years.
Mr. Boyd served on the Salvation Army advisory board in Fresno, and was a member of the Fresno State College board of directors. He served on the board for the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and frequently served as a summer camp inspector.
At various times he was active in the Blue Lodge Masons, Order of Eastern Star, Tehran Shrine Temple, Royal Order of Jesters and the Elks Lodge in Fresno.
In April 1999 Mr. Boyd was honored for 60 years of perfect attendance in Rotary. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber declared April 1, 1999, to be Floyd "Toad" Boyd day.
How he received his nickname of "Toad" is unknown, Don Boyd said. In Alturas his best childhood friend was named "Frog" Ballard.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Klamath Falls; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and John Shea of Chico, Calif.; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Sherrill Boyd of Klamath Falls and Jim and Barbara Boyd of Tulelake; eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a grandson
Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, March 28, 2002
Basin civic leader Floyd A. Boyd dies
‘Toad' involved in community groups, farm equipment trade for over 60 years.
Floyd A. Boyd, a man whose name has been associated with farming equipment in the Klamath Basin for more than 60 years, died Wednesday in Klamath Falls.
Mr. Boyd, who was known by friends and business associates alike by his nickname "Toad", was 94.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, Sixth and Pine streets, with Pastor David Bales officiating. Burial will be later at Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens.
He was born Feb. 18, 1908, in Alturas to Robert and Lelah (Griffin) Boyd. He attended school in Alturas before going to Heald Business College in Sacramento in 1926-27.
He and Ruth Jack were married June 12, 1934.
Mr. Boyd began his business career working at the J.T. Negley Co. general mercantile in Alturas. In 1933 he was put in charge of a satellite store in Tulelake. He moved to the Klamath Basin in a Model T Ford, traveling with Sam Wong, who would become a prominent potato grower and shipper in the Klamath Basin.
In 1940 he became a partner in the Tulelake store, which included an International Harvester dealership. The firm was renamed Floyd A. Boyd Co.
In the early years of his career, when many farmers were buying their first tractor, Mr. Boyd took teams of horses in trade for new tractors. He received about 600 head of horses over a span of about 10 years.
Mr. Boyd began investing in a company in Fresno, Calif., in 1948. In 1956 he moved to Fresno to help manage the business, Allied Equipment Co. The company eventually grew to include five stores and 130 employees.
During this time Mr. Boyd held interest in a farm in Tulelake with his brother, A.G. Boyd.
He turned management of the dealership in Tulelake over to his son, Don Boyd, in 1963. Another son, Jim Boyd, took over the family farm in 1964.
Floyd A. Boyd Co. purchased the International dealership in Klamath Falls from J.W. Kerns in 1965, and in 1973 the stores in Klamath Falls and Tulelake were combined at a new location in Merrill. In 1984 the company switched from International to John Deere products.
The business in Fresno was eventually sold, and Mr. Boyd moved back to the Klamath Basin in 1984 to spend his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd lived in a home on Front Street until moving a few years ago to the Crystal Terrace Retirement Center.
Don Boyd continues to manage the John Deere dealership in Merrill, assisted by his own son, Donnie. Jim Boyd continues to operate the farm.
Even after retirement, Mr. Boyd for many years kept an office at the implement dealership, and retained the title of company president until his death.
Don Boyd said he was always impressed with how his father could keep so many business enterprises going at once.
"He had a great mind. He could figure interest and deals in his head," Don Boyd said. "He always did his own income taxes, and had an accountant review them."
"He was always working with someone on a share deal," Boyd continued. "He told me one time that he had about 30 different partners. And I don't think he ever had a problem with a single partner."
Don Boyd recalled his father telling about one occasion when things didn't go so smoothly.
Mr. Boyd had delivered a horse-drawn manure spreader to a customer near Tulelake, and didn't realize until it was too late that he hadn't assembled it correctly.
"The customer jumped on it and went out to try out his new manure spreader," Don Boyd said. "With the chain on backwards, the manure started flying forward, coming down all over the operator and the horses. And that made the horses bolt. The horses took off and they kept running until the manure spreader was empty."
In his younger years, Mr. Boyd enjoyed body building, and liked to test his strength against carnival wrestlers who challenged local boys.
He also served as a rodeo clown and bull fighter in Klamath, Lake and Modoc counties. He frequently displayed his agility by doing headstands on various objects, including radiator caps, beer bottles and, on one occasion, the rail of a ship.
His favorite pastime was deer hunting.
He helped organize the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair, and was a charter member of the Tulelake Rotary Club.
He served as president of the Modoc Area Council of the Boy Scouts in 1936. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scout council
He served on the board of directors for the Butte Valley State Bank, and on the advisory board for First Western Bank in Dorris. He served as president of the California Equipment Dealers Associatin in 1962. He was chief of the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department for six years.
Mr. Boyd served on the Salvation Army advisory board in Fresno, and was a member of the Fresno State College board of directors. He served on the board for the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and frequently served as a summer camp inspector.
At various times he was active in the Blue Lodge Masons, Order of Eastern Star, Tehran Shrine Temple, Royal Order of Jesters and the Elks Lodge in Fresno.
In April 1999 Mr. Boyd was honored for 60 years of perfect attendance in Rotary. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber declared April 1, 1999, to be Floyd "Toad" Boyd day.
How he received his nickname of "Toad" is unknown, Don Boyd said. In Alturas his best childhood friend was named "Frog" Ballard.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Klamath Falls; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and John Shea of Chico, Calif.; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Sherrill Boyd of Klamath Falls and Jim and Barbara Boyd of Tulelake; eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a grandson
Basin civic leader Floyd A. Boyd dies
‘Toad' involved in community groups, farm equipment trade for over 60 years.
Floyd A. Boyd, a man whose name has been associated with farming equipment in the Klamath Basin for more than 60 years, died Wednesday in Klamath Falls.
Mr. Boyd, who was known by friends and business associates alike by his nickname "Toad", was 94.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, Sixth and Pine streets, with Pastor David Bales officiating. Burial will be later at Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens.
He was born Feb. 18, 1908, in Alturas to Robert and Lelah (Griffin) Boyd. He attended school in Alturas before going to Heald Business College in Sacramento in 1926-27.
He and Ruth Jack were married June 12, 1934.
Mr. Boyd began his business career working at the J.T. Negley Co. general mercantile in Alturas. In 1933 he was put in charge of a satellite store in Tulelake. He moved to the Klamath Basin in a Model T Ford, traveling with Sam Wong, who would become a prominent potato grower and shipper in the Klamath Basin.
In 1940 he became a partner in the Tulelake store, which included an International Harvester dealership. The firm was renamed Floyd A. Boyd Co.
In the early years of his career, when many farmers were buying their first tractor, Mr. Boyd took teams of horses in trade for new tractors. He received about 600 head of horses over a span of about 10 years.
Mr. Boyd began investing in a company in Fresno, Calif., in 1948. In 1956 he moved to Fresno to help manage the business, Allied Equipment Co. The company eventually grew to include five stores and 130 employees.
During this time Mr. Boyd held interest in a farm in Tulelake with his brother, A.G. Boyd.
He turned management of the dealership in Tulelake over to his son, Don Boyd, in 1963. Another son, Jim Boyd, took over the family farm in 1964.
Floyd A. Boyd Co. purchased the International dealership in Klamath Falls from J.W. Kerns in 1965, and in 1973 the stores in Klamath Falls and Tulelake were combined at a new location in Merrill. In 1984 the company switched from International to John Deere products.
The business in Fresno was eventually sold, and Mr. Boyd moved back to the Klamath Basin in 1984 to spend his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd lived in a home on Front Street until moving a few years ago to the Crystal Terrace Retirement Center.
Don Boyd continues to manage the John Deere dealership in Merrill, assisted by his own son, Donnie. Jim Boyd continues to operate the farm.
Even after retirement, Mr. Boyd for many years kept an office at the implement dealership, and retained the title of company president until his death.
Don Boyd said he was always impressed with how his father could keep so many business enterprises going at once.
"He had a great mind. He could figure interest and deals in his head," Don Boyd said. "He always did his own income taxes, and had an accountant review them."
"He was always working with someone on a share deal," Boyd continued. "He told me one time that he had about 30 different partners. And I don't think he ever had a problem with a single partner."
Don Boyd recalled his father telling about one occasion when things didn't go so smoothly.
Mr. Boyd had delivered a horse-drawn manure spreader to a customer near Tulelake, and didn't realize until it was too late that he hadn't assembled it correctly.
"The customer jumped on it and went out to try out his new manure spreader," Don Boyd said. "With the chain on backwards, the manure started flying forward, coming down all over the operator and the horses. And that made the horses bolt. The horses took off and they kept running until the manure spreader was empty."
In his younger years, Mr. Boyd enjoyed body building, and liked to test his strength against carnival wrestlers who challenged local boys.
He also served as a rodeo clown and bull fighter in Klamath, Lake and Modoc counties. He frequently displayed his agility by doing headstands on various objects, including radiator caps, beer bottles and, on one occasion, the rail of a ship.
His favorite pastime was deer hunting.
He helped organize the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair, and was a charter member of the Tulelake Rotary Club.
He served as president of the Modoc Area Council of the Boy Scouts in 1936. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scout council
He served on the board of directors for the Butte Valley State Bank, and on the advisory board for First Western Bank in Dorris. He served as president of the California Equipment Dealers Associatin in 1962. He was chief of the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department for six years.
Mr. Boyd served on the Salvation Army advisory board in Fresno, and was a member of the Fresno State College board of directors. He served on the board for the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and frequently served as a summer camp inspector.
At various times he was active in the Blue Lodge Masons, Order of Eastern Star, Tehran Shrine Temple, Royal Order of Jesters and the Elks Lodge in Fresno.
In April 1999 Mr. Boyd was honored for 60 years of perfect attendance in Rotary. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber declared April 1, 1999, to be Floyd "Toad" Boyd day.
How he received his nickname of "Toad" is unknown, Don Boyd said. In Alturas his best childhood friend was named "Frog" Ballard.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Klamath Falls; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and John Shea of Chico, Calif.; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Sherrill Boyd of Klamath Falls and Jim and Barbara Boyd of Tulelake; eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a grandson
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
