The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education offers our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dalton B. Floyd, Jr., a lifelong advocate for higher education in South Carolina and distinguished former chair of both the CHE and the South Carolina Higher Education Foundation.
Mr. Floyd was deeply committed to higher education: his leadership helped shape policy and strengthen access to higher education for countless South Carolinians. He was also a strong advocate for campus safety, and he and his wife Linda were key forces behind the successful Linda B. Floyd Campus Safety Conference series, which continued for more than a decade.
A first-generation college graduate and accomplished competitive swimmer at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Floyd exemplified the power of higher education to transform lives and brought conviction to every role he filled.
Mr. Floyd joined the CHE board of commissioners in 1996 and chaired the CHE from 2000-2005; he then went on to chair the South Carolina Higher Education Foundation following his time leading the Commission. His additional higher education leadership contributions included chair of the Winthrop University board of trustees, a trustee to the Coastal Carolina University board of directors, a member of the Medical University of South Carolina board of visitors, and an adjunct professor Charleston Law School.
He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 2005 for his life-long service to the state, including his leadership as chair of the CHE.
“Dalton Floyd was a remarkable advocate for students and a tireless servant to the cause of higher education,” said CHE President and Executive Director Dr. Jeff Perez. “His legacy is seen in the lives he touched, the institutions he uplifted, and the future he helped secure for generations of South Carolinians.”
The CHE extends our deepest condolences to Mr. Floyd’s wife, Linda, his four children, and the many colleagues, students, and friends whose lives he impacted through his extraordinary commitment to higher education.