Thread Number: 35716
/ Tag: Conventions, Mini-Meets, Parties
Clay Floyd has died |
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Post# 383386 , Reply# 1   1/1/2018 at 14:17 (2,278 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)   |   | |
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Post# 383387 , Reply# 2   1/1/2018 at 14:35 (2,278 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
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Post# 383389 , Reply# 3   1/1/2018 at 15:04 (2,278 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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Post# 383394 , Reply# 4   1/1/2018 at 15:30 (2,278 days old) by Ultralux88 (Denver, Colorado)   |   | |
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Post# 383396 , Reply# 5   1/1/2018 at 15:36 (2,278 days old) by Mpbyrd (Connelly Springs, NC)   |   | |
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Clay was the first person to teach me about some of the mechanics of vacuums and gave me my first Hoover Concept one when he had his store in Lenoir years ago. He was one of the most kind hearted knowledgeable people I know. When he closed his store and left town is was hard to get used to not going to see him in my routine visits to his store. Rest In Peace Clay. You will truly be missed.
-Payton |
Post# 383400 , Reply# 6   1/1/2018 at 16:21 (2,278 days old) by vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )   |   | |
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Post# 383441 , Reply# 9   1/2/2018 at 10:33 (2,277 days old) by Ultralux88 (Denver, Colorado)   |   | |
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Post# 383444 , Reply# 10   1/2/2018 at 12:50 (2,277 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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It's great when a person dies, and everyone tells how kind he was, how respectful he was, never making a nasty, biting, bitter, prejudice comment about anyone. Not making racial slurs, ethnic slams, etc.
I hope that's what's being said about Clay by those who knew him best. Let's hope the same can be said about all of us. Right? |
Post# 383448 , Reply# 11   1/2/2018 at 13:25 (2,277 days old) by Ultralux88 (Denver, Colorado)   |   | |
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But there wasn't an ounce of hatred in his heart, one could never say he was fake, he was very much a what you see is what you get kind of person. I appreciated his honesty about things. I enjoyed hearing his perspective on the history of the vacuum industry, how he felt about various vacuums based on working on them, and his crazy customer stories, and there were never a shortage of crazy stories! I usually ended up on the phone with him for at least an hour...
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Post# 383452 , Reply# 13   1/2/2018 at 14:31 (2,277 days old) by Ultralux88 (Denver, Colorado)   |   | |
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Post# 383453 , Reply# 14   1/2/2018 at 15:04 (2,277 days old) by vacman1961 (North Babylon, New York)   |   | |
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Rest in Peace Clay. |
Post# 383499 , Reply# 15   1/3/2018 at 12:20 (2,276 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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I first met Clay Floyd when I was one of only twelve members of the VCCC. Alex Taber had just 'reignited' the club after being dormant for a number of years. Clay drove from Denver to St. Louis. He picked me up and we drove to Naperville, Illinois (which is where Alex Taber lived - he hosted the Convention). Clay and I had each brought with us about 20 vintage cleaners that we donated to anyone who was in attendance. This was before the internet, ebay, vacland, etc. I wound up being best friends with Clay for the past 24 years.
Along the way, we attended ALL the VCCC conventions, Clay became a VCCC board member, and even hosted a Convention in North Carolina. That was the year I convinced Electrolux to let us (the VCCCC) into the factory and where I was given the Commemorative Edition Electrolux by the President of Electrolux. By 2007, Clay and I (along with a good number of people) were no longer a part of the VCCC. It wasn't the same club as it was when we joined. Neither of us liked all the changed the new people brought to the club. So, we all started having our Convention (still in June) at various places around the country. Clay's home became one of those places - it was so popular we had 2 Conventions there. Of course, Today we hold the Conventions at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James, Missouri I miss going to Clay's house in South Carolina. He had a Frigidaire Flair range, which I very much enjoyed cooking on for the group. I brought him a Sunbeam Mixmaster so I could bake for everyone while I was there. His house was kind of a shrine to the Rexair as that was his favorite machine of all times. I spoke to Clay very recently, to wish him a Happy Kwanzaa, but he didn't sound the same. That's the shame about stokes, you never really recover. As the executor of his will, it's my job to help clean out the house. He had maybe 40 vacuums in the house that were very dear to him. They all had a sentimental value (his mother's Hoover 634 for example). Those machines will come live in the Vacuum Museum (along with Stan Kann's collection, which is now all here at the Museum) and will be enjoyed by the public. My upcoming 'last' trip to his home in SC will be a very bittersweet one. I really loved that man. I loved his off color jokes, I loved his stories of horrible customers at his vac shop over the years (there are ALWAYS bad customers in any business). I loved his responses to people who were wrong. He made liberal use of the "C" word if you made him angry. He could string cuss words into sentences - I learned so much from him. But most of all, he loved Rexair and the Rainbow. He always made me promise to suck up his ashes into a Rexair at a VCCC convention. The VCCC is long gone, and the ashes would just blow out the exhaust anyway. He taught me everything I know about working on Rexairs, and I continue to make money with what he taught me. Rest in Peace my friend. Those of us who knew you, really miss you. |
Post# 383553 , Reply# 17   1/4/2018 at 15:17 (2,275 days old) by vacerator (Macomb Michigan)   |   | |
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video was not quite Pink Flamingo's, but close. Girl can't help it. Buy her a drink. |
Post# 383554 , Reply# 18   1/4/2018 at 15:23 (2,275 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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Post# 383721 , Reply# 19   1/7/2018 at 01:08 (2,273 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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There still is a V.C.C.C. Some people have asked me when/if it disbanded. It never did. It went a little dormant for a while. Yes, Alex Taber, John Lucia, etc tell the story about it's humble beginnings.... in North Canton, Ohio, at the Hoover Historical Center, now part of Walsh University's museum studies major. Some members are long gone. May of the members have passed away. Others quit or left. Others were banned from the club. Yes, over the years, it has undergone numerous changes, but the reason, mission, etc remains the same.
I am fortunate to have known some great folks who were members. Others, I've only hear legends. In our memorial book, one can find interesting stories about some wonderful, and, at times, colorful past members. A lot of the newer members don't even know some of the old gang. I'll add Clay, and our very revered Glen, and a host of others into that book. sadly, the pages in this book are growing. John Long, Vice Pres, V.C.C.C. the original vacuum cleaner collectors' club. |
Post# 383735 , Reply# 20   1/7/2018 at 09:42 (2,272 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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I was just discussing this with Hans the other day. The VCCC that Clay joined way back in 1994 is long dead. Today’s reincarnation is little more than “the new Mickey Mouse club“. Thank God I had a chance to belong to the club when it was real, and to have led it through the best of times. Those days, and those people, now belong to the ages. Clay absolutely hated what the club that he loved so much had turned into, and many of the “old timers“ haven’t a good word to say about it since. Personally, I don’t care about “vacuum clubs“, as I get to share the history of vacuums with the public. This thread is about Clay Floyd, and remembering him and his life. His friends and I were savvy enough to record a video of him pontificating about the “New club“. It’s a riot. I’m glad we have it for posterity.
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Post# 383819 , Reply# 22   1/8/2018 at 08:33 (2,271 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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for Clay? I have no idea if he was a religious/spiritual man.
At the VCCC convention, at dinner,(the last one, sometimes called a banquet), we have a blessing, and it is then that we remember those who have passed... both current members and the past members. Morgan did a very nice thing in Portland , just after Terry died. Of course, Terry was a very active member, trustworthy and faithful member. A lot of new people, sadly, never got to meet him or know him. Truly, he was one individual whom it was impossible to dislike. Amidst adversity, he'd always take the high road, a most valuable lesson. I was asked to fill his spot (never his shoes), as the membership coordinator, a true honor for me. That convention was truly one of Morgan Frazer's "finest hours" as our president. I've seen him rise up to the occasion numerous times, a very different "style" in doing things from our current president, most capable, Chad Cunningham, who adds his own style to running things. We're fortunate, indeed. Taking that high road, I'll wish Clay "peace". He didn't know me, may not have wanted to, who knows? But, he was a true to friend to some, and that's all that matters. Still, our VCCC will succeed, thrive, progress, endure... despite negative comments, etc from some. Some who don't even know most of the members, only through some close friends who still are members, still attend the conventions. If one didn't enjoy them, I'm sure one wouldn't attend.Childish slams, etc have no place in this thread, or in my life, for that matter. WE cannot be responsible for the conduct of anyone other than ourselves. I'm not going to sidetrack from the original purpose of this post more than this. So, perhaps offer a little prayer, or even a quiet thought for your dear, departed, friend, Clay. I can imagine the reunion with the other past members this week must have been a riot, based on what I'VE heard. Sleep in peace, Clay. |
Post# 383821 , Reply# 23   1/8/2018 at 09:01 (2,271 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)   |   | |
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Post# 383842 , Reply# 24   1/8/2018 at 11:15 (2,271 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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please accept my condolences on the loss of your friend. You're the only person close to me who is experiencing this loss.
He left a legacy for you, too. He taught you a lot. From an old song, I learned a long time ago, "And the only level of your works and your deeds will be the love you leave behind, when you're gone". This post was last edited 01/08/2018 at 12:19 |
Post# 383856 , Reply# 25   1/8/2018 at 14:35 (2,271 days old) by kenkart ()   |   | |
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Fine people, Terry Lattz was a wonderful friend and as kind a soul as ever lived! |
Post# 383861 , Reply# 26   1/8/2018 at 15:30 (2,271 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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He loved our conventions. It was at my first, '08, Hoover's birthday, when Terry came up to me, gave me a hug, and said, "Hi John I'm Terry".
He'd never bash anyone or our group, ever. Upon looking at minutes from past meetings, I discovered a lot of things, events that happened at meetings, people put on probation, some asked to leave, etc. amazing reading. It cold explain a lot. Terry was present during all of that. I wonder what he'd think now. But, he, too, is at peace, hopefully with the others. I have one of his Hoover Coffee cans. I'll treasure it always. |
Post# 383884 , Reply# 28   1/8/2018 at 19:10 (2,271 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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Post# 383919 , Reply# 29   1/9/2018 at 08:18 (2,270 days old) by kenkart ()   |   | |
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I have a bad temper that I control much better than I used too...LOL |
Post# 383920 , Reply# 30   1/9/2018 at 08:28 (2,270 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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Post# 384055 , Reply# 33   1/11/2018 at 11:19 (2,268 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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I remember that story very well. Including the many and varied obscenities that were shouted. Oh to have been a fly on the wall that day......
Spoke with Clay's sister yesterday. I'm setting up a special place in the Vacuum Cleaner Museum for Clay's Hoovers and Rexairs. His Hoover 150 is gorgeous, like it just came out of the box. And his mother's Hoover 534 will get a special place of honor among them in the display. I've been working on the Stan Kann vacuum display ever since the Vacuum Cleaner Museum acquired Stan's collection last month. I know it's totally in keeping with their memories that we treat their collections with the love and respect Clay and Stan showed the vintage machines. |