HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 177
A resolution of tribute offered as a memorial for Floyd Clack, former member of the House of Representatives.
Whereas, It was with great sorrow that the members of the House of Representatives learned about the passing of Floyd Clack. He will be remembered as a dedicated public servant by his constituents in Flint and Genesee County and the people of the state of Michigan; and
Whereas, Floyd Clack was born in Texas in 1940, and it was during his early years in Trinidad, Texas, where he learned the values of hard work, faith, and service. He carried with him the lessons he learned in his youth from his family and community, which formed the foundation for the everlasting legacy that he leaves behind; and
Whereas, Floyd found a passion for education early on in his life. He graduated from Texas Southern University, attended Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and received a master?s degree from Eastern Michigan University. He also worked in the public school system in Houston, Texas, before relocating to Wisconsin and joining the federal Job Corps program; and
Whereas, Floyd eventually settled in Flint, Michigan, where he became a pillar of the community. He was a steadfast advocate for young people in his role as educator and guidance counselor in the Flint Community Schools, and his dedication and deep belief in education as a transformative force led him to found the Flint Youth Leadership Institute, an organization created to teach leadership and develop young leaders. However, Floyd?s passion and commitment to the Flint community went beyond his role in schools. He served with honor as a member of the Flint City Council, where he founded the first official gun amnesty buyback program. He also served on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, where he acted as the chair of the Human Services Committee and the Equity and Diversity Subcommittee. Floyd was also a member of the board of directors of the Valley Area Agency on Aging, the Genesee County Metropolitan Alliance, the Violence Prevention Coalition, the Greater Flint Health Coalition Equity and Diversity Subcommittee, and the New Paths Board of Directors, among other organizations; and
Whereas, In 1982, Floyd was elected to represent the Eightieth District in the Michigan House of Representatives, which was comprised of Flint and other parts of Genesee County. In 1993, he began representing the Forty-eighth District after redistricting. Floyd would serve with distinction in the House of Representatives for seven terms before leaving in 1996; and
Whereas, While in the Legislature, Floyd focused his work and efforts on advancing equitable public education, supporting working families, and advocating for sustainable development in Michigan?s urban communities. He played an instrumental role in legislation that sought to increase school funding, expand access to youth programs, and improve educational resources for underserved communities. Floyd also made a name for himself in Lansing by serving in a number of positions. This included his work as the chair of the House Committee on Civil Rights and Women?s Issues, as well as the House Committee on Corrections. He also served on the Ad Hoc Special Committee on Alternatives for High Risk Students and a number of other committees, including the House committees on Education, Labor, and Urban Affairs, among others. Floyd was also elected to be the vice chair of the House Democratic Black Caucus, and to be the assistant majority floor leader. He will be remembered by his colleagues as a thoughtful, principled, and? visionary legislator with an unwavering commitment to his constituents in Flint and Genesee County; and
Whereas, While sustaining a demanding professional career, Floyd always made time to serve the community that he loved. He founded the Floyd and Brenda Clack Thanksgiving Dinner for Senior Citizens, the Floyd Clack All Star Baseball Team, the Floyd Clack Community Project, and the Flint Inner City Lions Club. He served as the chair of a number of organizations, including the Coalition for Fair Banking Practices, and was appointed to the Board of Regents at Eastern Michigan University. He was also a member of many different organizations, including the Flint NAACP, the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, the Michigan Alternative Education Association, the Urban League of Flint, and the Genesee County Community Resources Department, just to name a few; and
Whereas, Floyd?s dedication and impact did not go unnoticed by those he worked with and those he aimed to serve. He was the recipient of the David McMahon Award from the Michigan Education Association, the Stewart R. Mott Leadership Award, the Key to the City of Flint, the Leadership Award from the Flint NAACP, the Woodrow and Reta Stanley Lifetime Service Award, and the Man of the Year award from the Flint Inner City Lions Club; and
Whereas, While Floyd knew many professional successes in his life, it was his family that meant the most to him. He met the love of his life, Brenda Jones, who, as Brenda Jones Clack, served as the Thirty-fourth District Representative. After settling in Flint, the couple raised two children, Michael and Mia. It was always Floyd?s mission to instill in his children the values of heart, integrity, resiliency, and community that he held so dear, values he passed on to his grandchildren; and
Whereas, Floyd?s legacy will live on and continue to touch those in the Flint community and across the state of Michigan. He will be remembered for his poise, grace, and mentorship, as well as his reliance and unwavering dedication to uplifting those around him; and
Whereas, Upon Floyd Clack?s passing, we offer our condolences to his loved ones. Floyd Clack?s contributions to this chamber and the state of Michigan will be remembered; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of Floyd Clack, a member of the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1996; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Clack family as evidence of our lasting esteem for his memory.