Photo from
Natural Hygiene News – Feb 1973
In 1958, Oscar Floyd of Libertyville, Illinois, became involved in the Hygienic Movement. By his passing on January 11, 1973, he had left behind a remarkable legacy of leadership. Through his unwavering commitment and organized efforts, he worked tirelessly to transform the Hygienic society into one grounded in better health and stronger social structures.
He entered the Hygienic Movement at a pivotal moment, after a series of disheartening experiences with organizations whose promises to improve the human condition had gone unfulfilled. Disillusioned but not defeated, he was ready for a new path—one that aligned with his enduring ideals and offered a real opportunity to bring them to life.
Floyd poured all his zeal and ingenuity into his work for the ANHS, driven by a deep, personal commitment to liberate humanity from the weight of a society that had become indifferent to its fundamental needs. Channeling this passion, he brought over thirty years of successful business experience, having managed his own electronics firm—a powerful combination of purpose and professionalism that proved remarkably effective.
Floyd began by founding the Chicago chapter, which, under his leadership, achieved a level of success unmatched by any other. He actively cultivated leadership qualities in others, fostering a sense of responsibility among members and directors alike, encouraging them to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the Hygienic Movement.
Under his guidance, membership meetings evolved into significant events—no longer mere extensions of public gatherings, but central functions that reflected the chapter’s growing influence. He transformed the chapter from a casual club into a dynamic and vital arm of the Society. Board of Directors meetings also gained prominence during his tenure, and the establishment of twice-monthly board meetings stood as a testament to the chapter’s renewed sense of purpose and professionalism.
Natural Hygiene News – Feb 1973
He taught the chapter how to become self-sustaining without relying on local membership dues. Through his vision and persuasive leadership, the chapter established its own permanent Hygiene Center and launched a member-supported financial program. This initiative enabled the chapter to cover monthly rental fees amounting to hundreds of dollars, an unprecedented accomplishment within the ANHS chapter structure.
Although deeply involved in local operations, Oscar Floyd maintained a strong awareness of the Society’s national scope, thanks to his exceptional organizational insight. In 1961, just three years after joining the Hygienic Movement, he rose to the presidency of the Society at a time when it was at one of its lowest points. With remarkable determination and vision, he almost single-handedly steered it toward a renewed and sustainable path of success.
In 1963, Floyd introduced a visionary plan for developing Hygienic communities across cities nationwide—a concept he named Healthville. He presented this innovative idea to the membership through an article in Natural Hygiene News. Like many of his initiatives, Healthville was far ahead of its time. The full details of the plan are outlined in a book published by Natural Hygiene Press, titled The Greatest Health Discovery.
Natural Hygiene Press was established in 1964, mainly through the efforts of Oscar Floyd. Drawing on his business expertise, he took on the full responsibility of launching and managing the fledgling operation, handling everything from sales and order processing to billing, packing, and shipping. With limited financial resources, Floyd personally carried out all these tasks until the Press became financially stable enough to support additional help and allow him to delegate responsibilities. Oscar Floyd’s nurturing leadership was instrumental in the growth and lasting success of Natural Hygiene Press. Thanks to his vision and dedication, the Press evolved into a thriving publishing company, with seven paperback titles and over a quarter of a million copies sold.
In 1965, Oscar Floyd was the architect of the Society’s current Board of Directors structure, a pivotal reform that ushered in a new era of administrative excellence. From that point on, policy-making gained a heightened level of prestige, and serving on the Board became a respected honor rather than a burdensome duty. For the first time, Board meetings were held outside of the annual conventions, with minimal inconvenience to participants. Remarkably, officers began traveling long distances to attend these meetings, demonstrating a new level of commitment. Since then, the Society has consistently maintained a quorum at every Board meeting.
Oscar Floyd’s leadership qualities were most brilliantly displayed in meetings of the Board of Directors. He possessed a thorough mastery of parliamentary procedure and excelled in precise, concise analysis, wise interpretation, and calm, persuasive communication. He skillfully guided discussions back on course whenever they strayed and was adept at gaining acceptance for even the most unpopular viewpoints. His reportorial skills were unparalleled.
Natural Hygiene News – Feb 1973
Floyd had a keen, strategic insight into the Society’s organizational needs, and his mind was a wellspring of visionary ideas. He foresaw the development of area and regional operations, as well as chapters managing Hygienic institutions where practitioners could focus solely on their careers, free from business concerns. He also envisioned chapters running housing projects for retired members and publishing newspapers that would provide a wide range of well-researched health news.
Oscar Floyd’s understanding of human problems was vast, and he was equally adept at developing practical solutions. In 1969, recognizing the challenges faced by elderly members, he conceived the idea of an “Over 60 Club.” Floyd expressed concern over the growing societal focus on the “senior citizen”—the arbitrary milestone of 65. This shift, he noted, had become entangled in lucrative new industries, particularly in the medical and insurance sectors. Medicare, he argued, was a prime example of this commercialization.
He pointed to the rise of high-rise nursing homes, which, in his view, resembled little more than “burial grounds” for the elderly. In his sharp critique, Floyd highlighted the bleak reality that many older individuals were forced to live out their days in sterile environments, unable to maintain an independent existence on the meager benefits of Social Security. For those fortunate enough to escape the system’s constraints, the inevitable result was often a life of monotony, stifled by the oppressive nature of their surroundings.
Oscar Floyd understood that motivation was a critical factor in maintaining health, believing that “if you are not properly motivated, you cannot have health; and if you do not have health, you cannot possess strong motivation.” In response to this insight, he conceived the idea of the “Over 60 Club,” which he envisioned as a grassroots initiative with deep roots in every community. The club would establish local chapters focused on exercise programs, discussion groups, and study classes. Ultimately, these clubs could evolve into vibrant community centers, fostering physical well-being and a sense of social connection among their members.
Long before the youth revolution emerged, when young people realized they had inherited a flawed legacy from their elders, Oscar Floyd’s keen insight predicted the shifting tides. In 1963, he wrote in Natural Hygiene News: “Youth in natural hygiene could take the first step in restoring young people to their traditional role as questioners, revolutionaries, and enemies of corruption and complacency, as once accepted by their elders. This downward shift began with the roaring twenties. An unhealthy child is unlikely to become an idealist or leader, so it is crucial that hygienic youth begin to consider these issues now seriously. They must take the lead, and it is hoped that their parents will support them, or at the very least, stay out of their way.”
Oscar Floyd was a powerful and unwavering advocate for the Hygienic cause, fiercely committed to preserving its integrity. In his keynote address as chairman of the 1970 convention, he remarked on the fate of many health organizations that had withered and faded, noting they were often “shot through with ‘leaders’ and their own little gimmicks.” He emphasized that after 21 years, the Society had become, in his words, a “warden” of the health movement. Floyd pointed out that these two decades had taught a crucial lesson: the necessity of total dedication and unwavering integrity in upholding the movement’s principles. He made it clear that there could be “no compromises, no gimmicks, no backing down under pressure, and no expediencies.”
In 1965, Oscar Floyd was brutally attacked in a railroad station while waiting alone for a train home. He was the victim of a double stabbing, and the knife wounds caused irreversible damage to his health, the effects of which would haunt him for the years that followed.
Natural Hygiene News – Feb 1973
THE SERVICE RECORD OF OSCAR FLOYD
- National President of ANHS (1961-1964)
- Co-founder and business manager, Natural Hygiene Press, Inc.
- Vice President, ANHS
- Recording Secretary ANHS
- Director ANHS
- Chairman, Organizing Department
- Chairman, College Committee
- Trustee, College Division ANHS
- Chairman, Executive Committee ANHS
- Chairman, Convention Committees
- Chairman, Century Club
- Founder, president, director, Chicago Chapter ANHS
THE FINAL ADDRESS OF OSCAR FLOYD
Photo from Natural Hygiene News – Feb 1973
A summation of his life and a challenge to youth.
It was fateful, indeed, that Oscar Floyd should have selected for what was to be his final address on a national level, a summation of his philosophy and a call to youth to take up the torch. On July 12, 1972, at the 24th annual convention of the American Natural Hygiene Society, he said:
The youth of this time are probably born and growing up in the world during the most exciting period of the world’s history.
I don’t believe, and I don’t think any of us know of a time when there was a greater challenge for youth to do something with the mess they’re inheriting. All the way from the problems of ecology, the problems of government, the problems of economics, the problem of pollution, and the problem of overpopulation, there are nothing but problems.
When I was a young man, I was consumed with that type of curiosity. I came from a good, staunch republican family — and a rather large family and I was the only maverick that the family turned out. I was born at the beginning of these periods of instability — one of my earliest memories is of World War I, followed by the Russian Revolution, the Depression, and all the other factors that have led up to our present period.
I was looking for a solution at that time. I became interested in economics and politics, and I went the whole gamut of political interests, economic interests, and technocracy. Later on, I got into organic foods and organic gardening, and from there, that led to natural hygiene.
It’s probably not very often from this platform during this convention that you’ll have anyone tell you about how they got into Hygiene from an organizational point of view. You’ll probably hear quite a bit about how people adopted the Hygienic way of living, but how do we get started and begin working for the organization?
Since I’ve been primarily interested in human organization, my inclination in natural hygiene has been more in the direction of the human organization involved. Think about this. Instead of saying: “I’m a hygienist. I’ve learned what they teach; I’ve read the books; now I’m going home and I’m going to eat and sleep and exercise according; I’ve done my job”, why not consider that with all the foment in the world, all the change, at an ever accelerating rate, the more people that get organized natural hygiene and put their shoulders to the wheel, the more they’re going to play tremendous roles in the future ahead, because it’s a peculiar thing that many organizations that have very enlightened viewpoints regarding the future of society- the future political and economic society – have got the most stupid viewpoints regarding human life and human health.”
EXCERPTS FROM A EULOGY TO OSCAR FLOYD
DELIVERED AT A MEETING OF THE N.Y. NATURAL HYGIENE SOCIETY MC BURNEY YMCA, 215 W. 23rd St., New York City, Sunday afternoon, January 14, 1973
-written by Adele and Irving Davidson
To many of you, the name “Oscar Floyd” may not be known. Those who have been privileged to know him are now free to tell you of the great work that he accomplished in the later years of his life in our organization.
Many people come, are introduced to the principles of Natural Hygiene, benefit from them, and leave. Not so in the case of Oscar Floyd. When he first heard of Natural Hygiene, he was a busy business executive overseeing his own electronics plant. He brought an unusual background in organization, financing, and management. For us, he was the “angel” who quietly worked behind the scenes and began to use his knowledge and experience.
It was due to his efforts that we opened a national office in Chicago, first at 205 W. Wacker Drive, and when this office got too small, he was one of the driving forces who helped purchase and establish the headquarters building we now own, at 1920 Irving Park Road, known as the Natural Hygiene-Central.
No task was too menial for him, and he counted no hours. When he finished his day’s work, he would go to the Natural Hygiene headquarters to help guide the Society and to carry on his favorite project, the Natural Hygiene Press. His was a true contribution of head, heart and hand.
One will never know how much of each we have to be grateful for. Because Oscar was humble and expected no praise, he did not even make known how he was instrumental in moving our organization forward. He saw what was to be done, and he did it. He saw what had to be given, and he gave it.
It is now our task to bring the light which he bore and keep it burning to bring the bright truth to all who seek it. Our dedication has been greatly inspired by Oscar Floyd’s inspiration and unwavering devotion. It is difficult for us to think of working without him, yet we must.
The N.Y. Natural Hygiene Society, on your behalf, should donate all the money collected in our bowl to be sent in Oscar Floyd’s name to the Library-College Fund. If Hygiene has helped you at all, we beseech you to put into the collection bowl the cost of at least one visit to a physician, which you have saved, that we might show our gratitude in sizeable form, to be sent in the memory of this great humanitarian.
Oscar Floyd’s shining record is unforgettable. We acclaim him as the architect of the American Natural Hygiene Society, as a formulator of blueprints and guidelines for the growth and expansion of the American Natural Hygiene Society.
A Natural Portrait of Oscar Floyd
He was innately a child of nature. He responded to sunshine like a growing plant and was depressed by the days that were cloudy, chilly, and rainy.
As a boy of 15, he worked at farm chores on an equal level with adult men, and nature showered her blessings upon him with good health and vitality.
Then there was a hiatus when he came to Chicago while still in his teens and became part of the big city’s tensions and the competitive world of business, with its drinking, smoking, gluttonous eating, and general dissipations.
However, he found his way back to nature in the late 1950s when he purchased a forty-acre farm northwest of Chicago, avidly researched the works of experts in the field of soil building, and directed his energies toward converting the unproductive soil into rich, organic matter.
He dovetailed his natural activities with his belief that human organization was the road to man’s liberation from enslavement to the evils of civilization and became active in organizations that had as their basic philosophy cooperation with nature. There were the Organic Growers of Northern Illinois, the Natural Food Associates, and the American Natural Hygiene Society.
In each area of these associations, Oscar Floyd put back what he received, which is nature’s way of perpetuating life.
HE WAS A NATURAL MAN
(a tribute to Oscar Floyd,
by Burr McCloskey, an associate in The American Rally)
Oscar was far from an ordinary man. Not everyone knew this, but his friends did, and his family.
You cannot think about him in the terms you use for other men. If you put him in your sights and judge him by conventional criteria, you will miss him altogether. It would be very wrong to misjudge Oscar and miss the point of what a noble man he was.
HE WAS A NATURAL MAN.
Like good food, this can be deceptive. You see, he was not an imposing man. In fact, he was just about the opposite of every stuffed shirt that you have ever known. Always undemanding, A little rumpled, never noisy or presumptuous, he was pretty much at war with all the puffy, pompous, imposing men. He despised the front, the fluff, the facade of the establishment’s fakers.
HE WAS A NATURAL MAN.
No artificial colorings, no whitening. He deliberately deflated himself, stripped himself of all the fakery; Set himself apart from the magnates, the barons, the grand viziers, and the cognoscenti — all the maitres d’ of social adulteration.
It was not until Oscar unsheathed the sword of his intelligence, letting his eyes flash with the glint of reason, that you could know you were in the presence of a formidable mind. So if you judged him, you had to judge him on merit, on achievement, on valid stuff, and pure intrinsic worth.
HE WAS A NATURAL MAN.
Like good, by natural standards. Oscar Floyd was a giant. And his shadow, now that he is gone, still covers us. It will take a long book, and you are still writing it– the document of what that giant did and all the things he tried to do. Such a book will come most surely from your continuing efforts. And your children’s children will read it, we may pray, in a gentle meadow, beneath the sunlight’s stream, through a giant oak tree, content in the beautific air,
and Oscar, smiling as they read. For now, for those of us who loved him, for those who shared his stewardship, let us simply and scarcely sketch the unadorned profile of his gianthood.
You know, it startles us sometimes to unexpectedly note a gap in our homely ranks…. faces gone, a good strong right arm…. and then to see a giant was among us.
And he has left us. It’s good for us to know this. Oscar wouldn’t care; He’d grin; he’d shake his head in honest humility. And then hope nobody took it too seriously.
So, let us begin with his demand for inconspicuousness, humility, and quiet, oblique ego, because none of this must read to deny that he was eagle proud, which he was, and arrogant. But the most significant thrust of his pride was that he never acted like a proud man.
HE WAS A NATURAL MAN.
And nature conjures forces of turbulence as well as tranquility. His brain, the power of it, in inventiveness, in far-seeingness, in conceptual force, in sheer, sheer honesty,
was the brain of a giant; It saw things, foretold things, made things that lesser men could not imagine. He was a builder, a pioneer,
a rebel, and a prophet for tomorrow. He invested all of himself in the cause of tomorrow. Never drew against his credit for today, which is why we say these words and think about him now in his absence.
Oscar came to us out of Canada, from a vast, strong family, directly descended from William Floyd, whose name and distinguished others are on our Declaration of Independence.
He came as an 18-year-old lad, mostly unlettered, certainly with no purse, letters of credit, or cognizance.
And he walked into this brawling city, filled with a frontiersman’s contempt for what had befallen government and how tarnished had become the commonwealth.
It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature, the commercials tell us. And you could not fool Oscar Floyd. He had a brilliant insight into corruption, the tomfoolery, and the murderous conspiracies of corporate and civic shenanigans. He refused to pay any tariff for the phony toothpaste, the phony barbers, the phony druggists, the phony claptrap, or any of the fool’s gold of the fashionable, the popular, the conventional, and the sickeningly counterfeit.
He knew, at the beginning, fresh from the woods, that political government was the only mental institution in the world being run by its inmates. He refused to be fooled by the bleatings and the blatherings of those who scoured the land, befouled the produce, and were intent on ushering us into the chemical factories, for their therapies.
HE WAS A NATURAL MAN.
Although he walked, and looked, and insisted on posing as a poor man, you know, one whom you might suspect didn’t have the carfare, our best estimate, in his lifetime, is that Oscar Floyd, flat out, with no interest, no emoluments, or commissions, never a hope for titular reward, gave himself one million dollars
to various causes, investing in destroying the fraud and corruption of what he hated.
Let us say in these few words regarding the naturalness of the man, that long hours, fevered work, abusive schedules— all the self denying punishments of concentration, the full caliber involvement of the all-out man, the nervous dissipations and the sacrificial toll of purest combat with the images of his adversaries—- giant companies…courts of law… institutions of the state… satanic medical practitioners, and the cult of destruction — Only a powerful man, a giant, indeed, could have lasted almost three score and ten. Much too late and regretting all the decent regimens that could have saved him.
We must say it, in his time, he could enjoy a clash, metal on metal, war to the knife and knife to the hilt, and relish a rich joke. The Friar Tuck of rebellion. Sleeping on the run, letting his mind pour out its plans and programs, whatever the cost.
Oscar lived. He worked like a trojan. He poured intensity into every project according to his top priorities. He never traded creature comforts for the glory of husbanding a new idea. Oscar Floyd was a gentle, pleasant, self-effacing man.
He was an angry man with awe. He wore his anger like a robe, not letting it destroy him until he lacked the strength to resist. And when it ate him away, he died manfully.
His book is yet to be written; These words will not keep him green. poor Those who knew him, depended upon him, believed with him, and stood shoulder to shoulder, we shall keep the book and remember Oscar, who was a Natural Man.
His time is done; now he is gone. But they have not put him away. His comrades from all fronts, we among them, carried him to a green plot at Libertyville, but no coffin can contain him.
Oscar Floyd planted seeds in the dear, rich, organic earth; And those seeds will flower and keep on flowering. Don’t forget him.
He had a fierce, unrelenting hatred for all the phoniness. But he loved, revered, and supported every gesture, every honest gesture he could find that might let the earth yield up a humankind in a decent society that was worth the good air it might breathe.
He gave unflinchingly of himself. He depleted himself, which is the way it is with natural things.
Plain, old shoe, unpretentious Oscar.
This man could have accumulated a fortune had he been so designed, with patents and royalties, and corporate fees.
The Canadian kid walked into Chicago and pulled himself out of its factories, with all the discoveries that he had made and the applications he’d invented in the field of photo luminescence. So much and so well he did this, you may recall, that the Chicago Tribune, reporting his stabbing some years ago, called him “a wealthy inventor.”
Chicago was his town, and he knew it as well as any man will ever know it, the Vortex of America, perhaps the world. Libertyville was his choice. He staked his claim on forty acres, and when grim death came on black wings, Oscar was there because his wealth was not in the bank, not in coupons. His wealth was the wealth of tomorrow, because he was a natural man.
At first glance, reading his life, you might think he was a defeated man, cut down before his time. And this would be a mistake. You must look at his beautiful children and their young ones,
Look at his many, many, many friends, some of whom knew the man inside, respected his work, shared his goals, and envisioned his dream. Bled with him as he did bleed, laughed with him when he did laugh, and will never forget him. You must look at yourself- who are his allies.
Oscar Floyd was a prince among men. He was the fresh grown, vibrant, healthy kind. He was of the raw natural royalty that bows to no man, stands erect in all company, with eyes that see far beyond the clouded horizon, with hands that work the soil for today’s plain but nourishing meal.
Good night, sweet prince.
NARRATION
Excerpts From A Public Memorial Program
January 28, 1973
Natural Hygiene Building
1920 Irving Park Road, Chicago
by Dolores Burns
As dusk fell in Chicago on a gloomy and bone-chilling day in 1923, a train pulled into Union Station, carrying a starry-eyed 18-year-old young man. He had come thousands of miles, leaving behind his boyhood and his farm home in western Canada, to test his mettle against the great outside world and its problems, of which he had read with great zest and consuming curiosity during his growing years.
He was to blaze a trail in the worlds of science, nature, and human liberation. He was to become a lonely and valiant warrior fighting the greatest of all battles- to free man from being enslaved to the idea that he is helplessly and forever dependent on supernatural and unnatural forces for his spiritual and physical needs.
We are gathered here this afternoon to share in the warmth of memories of Oscar Floyd, who enriched the lives of so many who have gone, many who are not here, and many who are here–to probe the depth and breadth of a man who dared to dream an impossible dream of human liberation. He began a quest to realize his dream. He allied himself with many associations whose objectives could make that dream possible. There were the Technocracy Movement, the American Rally, the Organic Gardening Movement, the American Natural Hygiene Society, and the American Humanist Association. We have a story to tell, and we will tell it through those who knew him.
Oscar Floyd was a man of startling contrasts. He was gentle; he was stormy; he was shy; he was aggressive, he was simple; he was complex; he was a loner; he was immersed in a sea of humanity; he was condemned for his thinking; he was applauded for his accomplishments.
We cannot properly evaluate him now, but time will glorify the sum and substance of Oscar Floyd. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes:
I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.
To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it-
But we must sail and not drift nor lie at anchor.
“The Impossible Dream” Of Oscar Floyd
The sum and substance of Oscar Floyd is so eloquently expressed in the ballad The Impossible Dream. These words were sung by Louise Ditting, a contralto, at a Memorial Tribute in Chicago on January 28, 1973, and serve as a fitting epitaph to a remarkable man whose life enriched the history of humanitarianism and left an indelible mark.
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong,
To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!
This is my quest,
To follow that star,
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far;
To fight for the right without question or pause,
To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause!
And I know, if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest,
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm,
When I’m laid to my rest,
And the world will be better for this.
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove with his last ounce of courage,
To reach the unreachable stars.
Tributes to Dr. Gross
Dr. Robert Gross, Pawling Health Manor
“Oscar Floyd was one of the finest and most courageous men I have ever had the privilege of knowing. His unwavering loyalty and fundamental gentility were truly remarkable. The impact of his contributions to Natural Hygiene is profound, and he leaves behind a legacy of goodness that will be cherished and remembered by his friends for years to come.”
Jack Trop (past president of Natural Hygiene Press)
“To say that Oscar Floyd was an exceptional human being is to understate the dedication and unswerving determination of this remarkable man.
Oscar Floyd lived with nobility and died with the same dignity, remaining steadfast in his work until the very end. His remarkable courage and unwavering commitment now deserve to be shared, and I believe it is best expressed in his own words, taken from a letter he wrote to me on September 14, 1972.
“Farewell, Oscar. We will miss you, but we will carry on, building upon the foundation you helped lay. No one can replace you. You were truly unique, one of a kind, and we will not see your like again.”
Jack Trop (past president of Natural Hygiene Press)
Dr. Herbert M. Shelton
“It was with deep sorrow and a sense of great loss that I received the news of the death of Oscar Floyd. My association with him had always filled me with
of personal satisfaction. He was a man profoundly dedicated to the cause of natural hygiene and eager to do all that was humanly possible to promote knowledge of the principles and practices of nature’s great plan of care for the mind and body of man. Enthusiastically and perseveringly, he followed the light that was in him, looking always to the ultimate health for the millions. The greatest tribute I can pay to him is that the world is better for his having lived in it and will miss him now that he is gone.”
Dr. Virginia Vetrano, Past President of the American Natural Hygiene Society
“There are many people who work to spread the immutable truths and laws of natural hygiene while their enthusiasm is high, but there are few like Oscar Floyd whose ardent enthusiasm never diminishes. Without him, The Natural Hygiene Press would not be where it is today. He may be replaced with other dedicated workers, but to find one as dynamic, totally unselfish, undevious, and intelligent, possessing his organizational ability is a large order. It may be a long time before we find one with his abilities and willingness to devote himself to the cause. We intend to fully utilize all organizational structures he laid out for us and pledge ourselves to continue working as diligently in the right direction as Oscar Floyd would have desired, in the hopes that the health goal for the millions will soon be reached.”
Dr. D. J. Scott, Cleveland
“The world of natural hygiene has lost a great source of inspiration and guidance. We remember him mainly for his unselfish dedication to the visionary goal of establishing natural hygiene as a health movement with momentum and impact. It was a great day for natural hygiene when he put his executive talents to work for this organization, carefully developing and guiding it into a self-supporting national movement.
Few people in life become so dedicated to a more worthy and humanitarian purpose. It is especially fitting that he saw the results of his untiring efforts in establishing a thriving organization that disseminates the knowledge he regarded as worthy of his interests.
Those of us who were privileged to know Oscar Floyd realize that we were enriched by his friendship.
May we be equal to the task of maintaining and adding some measure to the momentum he helped establish.”
Dr. John M. Brosious, St. Petersburg, Florida
“To a devoted friend of natural hygiene:
Under your guidance and tender, loving care, our society has grown from a struggling, infant-like group to an organization that is now stronger and more firmly knit. Thanks to your devotion, our society now has The Natural Hygiene Press spreading the gospel of health truth more forcefully all over the world.
From the countless hours that you unselfishly spent without remuneration, we now boast of many more members and more chapters.
As a living memorial to natural hygiene, it is with deep appreciation that Mrs. Brosious and I honor you and your loved ones by giving this check to the Oscar Floyd Foundation for the College of Natural Hygiene.”
Dr. Gerald Benesh and Mrs. Gerald Benesh, San Marcos, California
“We found him to be very dedicated to promoting the principles of natural hygiene. The American Natural Hygiene Society took deep root when Oscar Floyd was elected president of the Society. From that point on, the organization surged forward and expanded under his able guidance. His presence will be greatly missed at future conventions by his friends who had been privileged to know him. He has left us a legacy that will long be remembered.”
Dr. William L. Esser, 3-time past President of the A.N.H.S.
“It had never been possible for me to spend enough time with Oscar Floyd to know him as a good friend might. Our hurried meetings were mainly held at conventions, in committee meetings and lectures, and in the hallways, always rushing from one meeting to another, often far into the night, as is the unavoidable necessity at conventions.
Photo: Courtesy of Mark Huberman
Nevertheless, I considered Oscar a good friend, as indeed he was to every member of the Natural Hygiene Society. I say this because there have been few who so generously and freely give of their valuable time as Oscar Floyd. Even though his personal business commitments were outstanding and demanding, most of his nights and weekends were spent in the great cause of Natural Hygiene and the Natural Hygiene Press, when perhaps if he had not been so dedicated and drained his vitality so severely, his life would not have been concluded at so early a time.
All present and future followers of present Natural Hygiene owe Oscar Floyd an outstanding debt, for without his great sacrifice, the movement would not have made the excellent progress it has made during the past decade.
It is commonly said that no man is irreplaceable. While this is undoubtedly true, it will be long before natural hygiene finds a man with the drive, courage, and determination so necessary to the important cause which is ours.
Dr. Keki R. Sidhwa, England
“I wish to send my condolences to Mrs. Floyd and all of you. I do not doubt that those in the movement will miss him and his valuable assistance to the hygienic cause.
Joseph Brenner, Past President, A.N.H.S.
“How well I remember Oscar Floyd! I first met him when I was the convention chairman in New York City around 1960. A very shy gentleman approached me and said he was from Chicago, and he would like to form a natural hygiene chapter in the city. Would I help him get started? After talking with him, I sensed a rare human being.
I was instrumental in having a resolution passed at the convention that a charter for a Chicago chapter be given to Oscar Floyd. He was the sparkplug, the dominant figure that made Chicago the most eminent and formidable chapter in our movement.
When I had the honor of serving as national President, I persuaded Oscar Floyd to become the chairman of the membership committee to accelerate membership growth, which he carried out with great distinction.
When my term of office was over and I felt that my business activities precluded me from continuing, I spoke with Oscar Floyd. I persuaded him to run for the office of national president. I am happy to say that I was instrumental in achieving this action.
Oscar Floyd was ever motivated, regardless of his personal circumstances, to give unstintingly of himself to Natural Hygiene. It seems to me that this was a divine expression of a rare human being whose spirit and very soul were on fire for a great cause. We have lost something very precious. I valued his friendship, his intellect. To know him was an honor and a great privilege. He shall never be forgotten, for the results of his efforts shall live on and on.
We who are still here must rededicate ourselves so that his wishes and desires shall become a reality. The Natural Hygiene College, a crucial aspect of his endeavors, must adopt a new direction to raise the necessary funds, making this function a reality. It is only in this way that we can personally show our gratitude for the greatness of Oscar Floyd and the privilege of having had him in our midst.
In his memory, some of his friends and colleagues have proposed establishing the Oscar Floyd Endowment Fund for the college. I can think of no better way than this to express our feelings for Oscar Floyd’s magnificent contribution to the cause of natural hygiene.”
Mrs. F. M. Cockburn, President of the Australian Natural Health Society
“It is difficult to express the loss I feel in the passing of Oscar Floyd, despite the distance between our countries.
The American Natural Hygiene Society has lost a guiding star. His quiet smile and sincere welcome will be sadly missed when I join your convention next.”
H. Jay Dinshah, Former A.N.H.S.Vice-President
“The term ‘Natural Hygiene Pioneer’ usually evokes thoughts of our distinguished practitioners, mainly of the 19th century, whose discoveries, practices, and writings brought us eventually to the peerless work of another true pioneer in our own time, Dr. Herbert M. Shelton. However, natural hygienists of the present and future times will surely honor in the roster of distinguished pioneers of the movement the name of a layman whose contributions to natural hygiene lie not in the area of philosophy and principles as such, but in the fields of effective communication, organization, and education.
It is one thing to dream lofty dreams, but quite another to bring them into being. Many are there in life who say ‘wouldn’t it be wonderful if…’; but rare indeed are the men who will have not only the dreams but also the patience, the ability and the will; to take the time, to make the effort, put in the work, lay the plans AND see them through to fruition. Oscar Floyd was such a man, one with a positive genius for coming up with bold, clear-blue-sky ideas, and then formulating the program, setting the structure in place, cutting through any possible red tape, and rolling up his sleeves to get the job done. He was a master of the three modes of physical actions: the Thought, the Word, and the Deed; and he knew that none of these could long thrive if deprived of the other two. Because no task was too small for him to personally see to, no project ever proved too large for him to tackle.
Oscar Floyd was a leader blessed with what is called ”vision’; and time after time he embodied the most breathtakingly bright, the most progressive and pioneering spirit of the entire movement. Time after time, he blazed new trails where even the most intrepid among us scarcely dared to hope for more than moderate success. Time after time, he amazed us all—perhaps even himself-with the spectacular dividends to the movement as one of his pet projects took off and soared to previously unimagined heights.
He was a true pioneer in so many ways, and raised the banner of the Society in so many new ways, that as we gaze at the movement today we can scarcely cast an eye in any direction but that it rests upon some major achievement of Oscar Floyd’s: a fine brain-child that he fathered, midwived into birth, nurtured in its infancy, and helped to raise to its maturity. When we consider all that the Society accomplished in just a short decade of his brilliant and consistent efforts in practically every possible leadership position, it makes the record of his pioneering achievements all the more remarkable.
We cannot ignore or slight the valiant struggles of many others in the A.N.H.S. and natural hygiene movement; nor would it be wise to forget that the American Natural Hygiene Society is, to a very great degree, a democratically structured institution and, in a real sense, a team effort. But it is no mere hyperbole to state that, save the single exception in the 20th century and possibly one or two in the 19th, Oscar Floyd has more than anyone else in our history left his stamp of genius on the natural hygiene movement.
We have dwelt upon his unstinting and invaluable contributions to the movement, as well as his sterling attributes as a leader and worker. If we pause to recall, as we always will, his gracious qualities as a warm and generous man and as a friend, then the tragic loss, speaking for the movement and personally, becomes doubly difficult to bear. But the edifices of natural hygiene that he built, and the memory of his selfless devotion to the cause, will continue to serve as examples to us all, and as a challenge for all in future times: ‘Mark well! Greatness is to be measured by the goodness a man does in this life, and by what he is willing to give of himself for the sake of his fellow beings.’ By any such definition, Oscar Floyd was an uncommonly great man.
Irving Davidson, A.N.H.S. Vice President
Adele Davidson, A.N.H.S. Director
“Oscar Floyd presented an exemplary model of right action and generous nobility in his extraordinary capacity for unlimited service. He could see the vision of the oak tree of natural hygiene in the planted acorn, no matter the difficulties encountered in the preliminary cultivation. He was most devoted to the interests and objectives of natural hygienic progress and the general welfare of hygienic membership.
He expended every effort to determine what is best for his fellow men.
He gave unselfishly of his time, his energies, and his strength. No man could have given more, no man could have received greater rewards of satisfaction and contentment, in that he was doing his best for the most worthy cause.
He was widely admired for his sincerity, genial nature, and willingness to serve. He was truly one of the giants of natural hygiene, and his significant contributions to the cause of natural hygiene will never be forgotten.
Within the all-too-brief interlude that is man’s life, Oscar Floyd’s great living example was sufficient to eternally illuminate his sterling character, which will ever shine like a beacon of glowing light for the guidance of the hygienic navigators of the future.
Difficult as it is to evaluate the impact of a man’s life and influence upon a generation, we must still stand humbly and awe-inspired in tribute to the memory of this magnificent soul.
Oscar Floyd’s death, to have genuine purpose and meaning, should give to all hygienists a greater sense of unity, with a collective desire to help and maintain and preserve his outstanding achievements, to help keep them intact, and then to grow in the direction of the many guidelines that he outlined for future involvement and improvement. We must complete the unfinished business that only death could have temporarily halted.
We hope that the inspiration of his life will always be with us, and the whole world of natural hygiene indeed acknowledges with sorrowful gratitude the outstanding debt that they owe to Oscar Floyd.”
Rose Solomon, Florida Life Member
There is only so much one can give to one’s fellow men. When the saturation point is reached, there is no more, and he must stop. Oscar, a rare combination of spirit, business expertise, and a high degree of maturity in dealing with people, just had no more to give to Natural Hygiene and mankind. His account had been overdrawn for quite some time. But what he has given will remain with us always- an inspiration for us to continue to keep the fire burning, which he had kindled and kept ablaze.”
Jack Solomon, Florida, Past President A.N.H.S., Life Member
“His untimely death, accelerated by frustration, should be a lesson to all of us. His passing is an irreplaceable loss.”
Sophie Holzgreen, Los Angeles Trustee of NH Press, A.N.H.S. Director
“His dedication was without limitation. He envisioned natural hygiene as a powerful force that would bring the message of intelligent living to the public, and he formulated plans to make this a reality. He promoted natural hygiene through all natural hygiene channels. The Natural Hygiene Press is a monument to his efforts as its business manager.
Oscar Floyd carefully planned the future of our society to put it on a solid foundation, ensuring its structure would endure.
I will miss him. We will all miss this man who, with his devotion and determination, gave so much of himself to an excellent cause for human betterment.
We can honor Oscar Floyd and make his dreams come true by actively promoting natural hygiene, doing our part in service, and helping natural hygiene grow strong and spreading the knowledge of a better way of life for all mankind.”
Stephen J. Winter, A.N.H.S. Director
“The Society has lost its most dedicated and able member. I hope that we can, at least collectively, fill his shoes and keep the many projects that he started moving at a steady pace.
Pittsburgh Chapter A.N.H.S.
“Our inspiration has passed in the passing of Oscar Floyd. It will be difficult to fill his shoes. If one person cannot do it, we all must pitch in to carry the banner for natural hygiene.
Not only should we work in our respective towns, but we should also assist Hygiene Central in recruiting new members and accept all assignments given to us. Oscar Floyd may have shown us that. Let’s pave the way. His excellent example and hard work have not been in vain. Long live his memory.”
Joy Gross, A.N.H.S. Director
“Seventeen or eighteen years ago, at a time when the American Natural Hygiene Society was struggling for survival and the National Office was being run from my home in Affton, Missouri, letters of support and generous contributions began to come in from the movement- a man named Oscar Floyd.
Whenever a campaign for vitally needed funds was underway, Oscar was among the first to come through with a contribution. When we took over the publication of the Society’s official magazine, Natural Hygiene, Oscar purchased copies in bulk for distribution. When advice was needed, a phone call to Oscar resulted in sound, practical suggestions, as well as much-needed moral support. Throughout the years, although many of us, for various reasons, have had to take a back seat, Oscar made it his business to stay in, dedicating endless hours to the cause.
Men like Oscar Floyd are the backbone and lifeline of any organization. The American Natural Hygiene Society has lost a vital part of its lifeline in his passing. His example will, hopefully, encourage us to give more of ourselves to the cause of natural hygiene.
Mary Evans, Granite City, Illinois, Secretary A.N.I.S.
“I feel privileged to have worked with Oscar Floyd on the Board of Directors. The quality of life is richer for having known his dedication to the Natural Hygiene Movement.
The story of the development of the Natural Hygiene Press exemplifies how he extended his energies to achieve the distribution of our literature. He was both a doer and a dreamer.
Establishing a Natural Hygiene College was a dream of his. We must dedicate ourselves to making his dream a reality soon.”
Bruce Meservey, A.N.H.S. Director
“I first met Oscar last summer when the Los Angeles chapter was planning to host the annual convention at Redlands. He was one of the first of many fine hygienists I was privileged to meet and work with at this event.
As busy as he was with his publishing duties, Oscar made two trips to Los Angeles to help prepare for the convention. I participated in two meetings that he conducted and was impressed with his graciousness, understanding, and helpfulness.
He worked diligently to implement all the necessary details. He conducted both meetings with tact and skill. In addition, he shared some of his early experiences when he worked with others to build and strengthen the Hygiene movement and membership in years past.
I enjoyed several private talks with him and developed a growing respect for his sincerity, industry, and dedication to natural hygiene in many
areas.
His contributions to us are especially apparent through his Natural Hygiene Press publications. These books have introduced many people to a better life. Most of us can only assist a few. Oscar was destined to guide hundreds to natural hygiene through his publishing efforts. Their his thanks, together with history-making books, are a mighty and everlasting memorial to this fine man.”
David Zuessman, A.N.H.S. Director
“Oscar and I met years ago as fellow fasters at Dr. Shelton’s Health School at San Antonio. Early and late, I could hear him working at his typewriter down the hall. I asked him why he was working so hard during a fast; he knew better than that. He said, “Somebody has to do the work.” And what was his work? Spreading the truth in natural hygiene to his fellow man. At national conventions and in Board meetings, he was the principal architect, patiently building the House of Hygiene, brick by brick. His task was the Herculean task of running the Natural Hygiene Press, and he was intimately involved in the operation of Natural Hygiene-Central in Chicago.
I never knew Oscar intimately, but I did know him well enough to value him as
a dear friend, a devoted, dedicated student of natural hygiene. While Oscar would challenge me if I said he was religious, it is a fact that love is the essence of all religions. Oscar had a great love for people and worked too hard to communicate Hygienic truths to them, and in this sense, Oscar was religious. ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’. John 15:13. With his passing, natural hygiene has suffered a very profound loss. I miss him very much, as I’m sure all who knew him do.”
Cylvia Margulies, California Trustee, Natural Hygiene Press
“Here was a man who identified himself completely with a noble ideal to strengthen and enlarge and popularize the magnificent principles of natural hygiene. For this splendid cause, he dedicated himself. It was preeminent in his heart and mind to help give the American Natural Hygiene Press greater dimensions. And this he did. Through Oscar Floyd, our two organizations grew and prospered. For his inestimable dedication and contribution to us, we will treasure his memory and his unparalleled work. He is the Thomas Jefferson of the natural hygiene movement in our country.”
Jack Goldstein, Past President, Washington, D.C. Chapter
“I first met Oscar Floyd at the 19th convention of the A.N.H.S. in Chicago in 1967. I had been elected president of the Washington chapter, and this was my first convention. When I checked in, I was told to see Oscar Floyd. He felt that I could bring a valuable fresh perspective to the Society’s Board of Directors and urged me to run for the office of Director. To help make it easier for me to get elected, he chose not to run for director that year, allowing the votes that would likely have gone to him to be free, and thus giving me a better chance to become elected, which I did.
After that, I attended every convention and became very familiar with Oscar. We worked together at the conventions and board meetings, and I have never seen a man work for a goal with such zeal and dedication in my life.
Oscar Floyd will stand alongside the early hygienists and Dr. Shelton in his efforts to bring knowledge and health to people through natural hygiene. Our country in wartime gives the Congressional Medal of Honor for effort beyond the call of duty. I believe that the work done by Oscar Floyd in building the Natural Hygiene Movement warrants an award of the Medal of Honor. The work that he carried on must continue, and I hope we will all redouble our efforts to make up for his loss.”
Lee Bauer, President of the Hawaiian Chapter
“We owe Oscar Floyd a lot; he was many things. Among them, indeed, he was a peacemaker. He had a way of bringing harmony when the ugliness of discord permeated. Even though you might not see eye to eye with him in every instance, you admired the clarity of his thinking and the fairness of his actions. Surely the American Natural Hygiene Society has benefited enormously from his efficient touch. For years, we struggled to organize ourselves, pay off debt, and move in the right direction. It wasn’t until Oscar Floyd took hold of the situation as President that the movement began to move. He got us out of the red and put us in the black…and he didn’t relinquish the job until he felt we were on the way.
Who is to say how a life is to be lived, and how one’s time and energy are used? Oscar chose to use his in helping the society and all of us indirectly in the ways he must have felt were most important to him. I consider my acquaintance with him a distinct and revealing pleasure and privilege. I’ll miss his gentle touch, his insightful words, which were right to the mark, and his guiding hand. When he was in charge, I had complete confidence in the outcome. So passes a genuinely great man. May his spirit of rightness continue to guide us.
Richard A. Wangler, Former A.N.H.S. Director, President of the Southwest Florida Chapter
“When one gives of himself more than he can afford, it is an outstanding mark of dedication, courage, and fortitude. If ever there was a man who (using the cliche) bent over backwards for the betterment of society, it was he. I recall that at the A.N.H.S. Board Meetings, if he were criticized, he would accept it with the grin of a young boy and proceed with the business at hand, without a word or excuse. He wanted action, not talk. I gather from a long letter received from him within the past month, regarding Chapter activity, that he was as heartily and busily involved in our A.N.H.S. as he was 10 years ago. His efficient business sense contributed significantly to the Society’s present development. Upon hearing of his passing, I automatically relaxed and wondered, “How and when will we ever be able to replace him?”
The Huberman Family: Max, Ruth, Jeffery, Mark, Youngstown, Ohio
“Each era produces individuals who are so dedicated to a cause that all other considerations become secondary. Such an individual was Oscar Floyd. For Oscar, the cause of Natural Hygiene was the noblest endeavor and most meaningful goal, giving his life meaning and fulfillment.
His life was truly one of service, helping to enlighten the deluded, confused, and suffering masses.
It is fitting to recall the words of a great educator who declared: ” Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.’ Oscar Floyd’s life and work were a true victory for humanity. We can best perpetuate his victory and his memory by emulating his dedication to the truths and goals of Natural Hygiene and bringing enduring peace, health, and happiness to all humanity.”
R. J. Cheatham, Past President, A.N.H.S., Bonita Springs, Florida
“Oscar Floyd was a great friend and benefactor of Natural Hygiene. He possessed unusual business acumen and generously shared his talents to help our society during one of its most challenging periods. As a result of his efforts, many people will benefit from Natural Hygiene in the future.
Lois Epstein, Director A.N.H.S., Merritt Island, Florida
“He was a dedicated hygienist who devoted himself to the society. His absence will be felt for a long time to come. For those of us who knew him, worked with him, and loved him, his passing is an even greater loss. I feel privileged to have been associated with him.”
Homer Kentner, Sales Agent, Natural Hygiene Press, Rochester, New York
“Natural Hygiene has lost a man whose dedication to the Hygiene movement was solid and true to the end. He was a man of calm poise, balanced judgement, and progressively energetic.
In my limited association with him, he always went the extra mile to be helpful, always with a smile and a pleasant willingness that will long be remembered by all his associates.
His many and varied contributions to the furtherance of Natural Hygiene will be a lasting monument to his memory.”
Simon Bloom, President, New Jersey Chapter
“He was totally immersed in the effort to help a sick world. He spread an aura around him–that the acceptance by more of the world of the principles of Natural Hygiene should be among our utmost efforts. I know that Oscar would feel that this is the greatest tribute we could give him and his work. So, thinking that way and trying to gear my mind to what this wonderful soul would feel is the finest tribute to him. I suggest that we give deep thought to establishing the College of Natural Hygiene. We can consider ourselves fortunate that we have the opportunity to pick up the torch from Oscar Floyd and, in turn, encourage others to become involved. I remember hearing him on the very last day of the convention, and I was inspired by his words. I had hoped that the convention would have given him some manner of recognition in return. We often fail to honor our leaders while they are alive. The College of Natural Hygiene can be an everlasting memorial to Oscar Floyd, a man of accomplishments who gave himself instinctively to the cause for which we are dedicated.”
Helen Pease, Vice President, Orange County, California Chapter
If I have noticed, as I have, that Hygiene’s light appears less than its usual brilliant glow, it is not because convictions toward it have lessened but because it has simply chosen to bow in reverence to one of its fallen champions, Oscar Floyd.
Perhaps no one else shall ever be able to match his stride on the many paths he has paved, and certainly the achievements he has reached because of his dedication shall always stand as monumental achievements of greatness.
The passing of Oscar Floyd shall be the rededication towards Hygiene’s goals of all of us who remain in the glow of Hygiene’s light.”
Dr. Jack Goldstein, Past President, ANHS Director, Detroit, Michigan
“I saw in Oscar Floyd a man devoted to a cause as few people ever are. As I came to know him more closely through serving with him on the Board of Directors, I found a man of depth, devotion, humility, selflessness, loyalty, and compassion.
He was self-sacrificing in his work for the American Natural Hygiene Society, and neither asked nor expected anything in return. He was so much a part of the A.N.H.S. that one cannot think of the society without thinking of Oscar Floyd.
I would like to see a memorial scholarship established in his name, or part of the Natural Hygiene College named for him, or some other such honor bestowed in his memory. I am happy to have had the privilege of knowing Oscar Floyd. My life is a little richer for it.”
Mr. and Mrs. Irving Barnett, Los Angeles, Life Members
“It was our privilege last summer to come into close personal association with Oscar Floyd during his stay in Los Angeles in preparation for the convention. We had known him for years and admired him for his splendid service to the Hygiene Society in many capacities. However, this brief, close association deepened our understanding of his character and strengthened our esteem for him.
If we were to seek the one outstanding quality that impressed us most about this man, it would be his steadfast devotion and dedication to the principles of the Hygiene Society. He demonstrated this through his selfless and faithful service in promoting the teachings via the Natural Hygiene Press. These superlative traits, combined with his innate intelligence and business acumen, made him invaluable to this movement. We shall miss him- the society shall miss him. Still, we shall all, individually and as a group, thanks to his inspiration and example, be the better because of our association with him. For this, we are grateful.”
Florence Kaplan, President, Cincinnati Chapter A.N.H.S.
Harry J. Kaplan, Treasurer, Cincinnati Chapter A.N.H.S.
“On behalf of the American Natural Hygiene Society of Cincinnati, our thoughts are with you in heartfelt sympathy in the loss of Oscar Floyd. He was an intelligent leader and a significant driving force behind promotional steps in our society over the last 11 years.
Oscar Floyd’s ideas for a Natural Hygiene Press, Inc., with its paperbacks, were dominant in bringing various phases of natural hygiene to hundreds of thousands of readers.
Oscar Floyd’s continuance of the Century Club so that the deep-dyed supporters increased and carried on the worthwhile work of our Society……
Oscar Floyd’s promotion at every opportunity of the dream of a Natural Hygiene College with fundraising ideas.
Oscar Floyd was a friend of the chapter. He gently persuaded Hygienists in various cities to start new chapters. Whatever capacity Oscar Floyd held- President, Vice-President, Director, Business Manager of The Natural Hygiene Press- his deep concern was that Natural Hygiene would grow. To show our appreciation to Oscar Floyd, we must continue where he stopped.”
Sally Bunkham Robyn, Vice-President
Carl Robyn, St. Louis Chapter
“There is a right time for everything. A time to be born, a time to die, A time to plant, a time to harvest.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2)
We may not understand God’s timing in Oscar Floyd’s life, but we know he was a gentle man of great discrimination. He recognized a great cause. He decided to use his life for it-time, effort, thought, money.”
John A. Waring, Washington, D.C.
“Word reaches me tonight that my old friend Oscar Floyd is gone–and I want to write you of what I knew of him.
Oscar and I were among the leaders of a group of men who, in the 1940s, were building Technocracy in Chicago. His decisions and actions were invariably rational, objective, and humanistic, which means scientific in the best sense to Oscar, as well as to me and a few others there at the time. His thinking was scientifically based, something sorely needed then and more so now, so I add my name to those who wish he were still with us for what lies ahead.
I am sure that his soberly scientific and honestly forthright thinking, his imagination, and his quiet sense of humor, as we knew him then, became invaluable when he helped build Natural Hygiene in Chicago and nationally in the 1950s and 1960s.
Whether he explicitly said so, I cannot (at this moment) know. Still, I know that Oscar was as keenly aware as I am that only when-and if-the American and Canadian people demand and get the social change which science can make possible on this Continent-without the socially pernicious and resource–environmental devastating misuse of technology and Nature (including, most of all, human Nature)-which is the concept and of Technology….then only will the principles and practice of Natural Hygiene come into its own. For all, not just our struggling handful.
Only then will the knowledge of Nature’s workings as discovered by science, but for the first time unfettered by the depredations of both Political Ideology & Institutions and Economics & Money, be applied, solving all problems….science and sanity will be the guides and criteria, not any form of political or financial power-over-people. Oscar knew Technocracy, which is why he allied himself with Hygiene. As do I.
Oscar Floyd-technologist, Technocrat, Hygienist, Humanist……” A last Salute!
Jack Bailey, (an associate in electronics)
I came into daily practical contact with Oscar Floyd, and in that contact, I realized that I was in the company of a man who possessed prodigious strength and a deep affection for humankind. He also had a very experienced mind and a clear thinking head; he envisioned various technical inventions and produced a few of them. Had he lived another ten years, I believe his name would have been emblazoned on the technical bastions of this country due to his innate knowledge of electronics, electricity, and the physical sciences.
Lynn Dahlstrom, (an associate in Technocracy)
I first met Oscar Floyd in the period from 1946 to 1948. Technocracy was a social organization dedicated to improving the condition of people in the country, increasing income, and completely reorganizing the social structure for the benefit of mankind. When I joined the organization, Oscar Floyd was very active on the board of directors and was the backbone of the organization. He donated his energy, time, money, and all he had to the organization. He was also the inspiration to newcomers. One of his abilities was that he could motivate and inspire others to work. He would encourage you to do greater things.
However, the leader of the organization didn’t expand, so Oscar and a few other people got together and formed an insurrection. This insurrection was not looked upon favorably by the leader, and he had all the people involved in the insurrection fired. Since that time, the organization has declined. However, this showed Oscar’s leadership qualities, for he saw a condition and decided to do something about it. He possessed great leadership, energy, drive, and the capacity to accomplish things, and for his time. We would have been the losers if he had not been with us.
Eileen Brand, (an associate in The American Rally)
In Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers converge to form the Ohio, there is a giant cliff, and a few weeks ago, a great neon sign was displayed on this cliff. It said: “Adios, Amigo Roberto”. And a mighty fitting tribute to a great baseball player.
Our society may know how to honor its baseball players, but our society has never learned what kind of tribute to pay a man like Oscar Floyd. I think maybe the only fitting memorial to Oscar Floyd would be the kind of a society that knows how to honor men like that. That’s what he fought for all the days of his life.
Paula Jackson (an associate in humanistic organizations)
I have known Oscar Floyd for maybe 25 years. He was a type of person who wasn’t very humorous. You couldn’t get close to him, but in all my dealings with him and all of my relations, I have never known that man to be wrong or on the side of wrong. He was always on the right side; he was always for kindness. He was always for good. He was always on the side of humanity.
Oscar was born with a remarkable gift — 100 percent metabolism. All the people who excel at the top, who have the drive and the force, have a 100 percent metabolism.
Marion Leiter, (an associate in Organic Growers of Northern III.)
Long before the Floyds moved into our area, we had a group of organic soil builders, and as an outgrowth of that, we formed a small group of organic growers. When there was a joint meeting of the Hygiene Society and the organic growers, the Floyds attended the meeting for the first time. After that, Oscar Floyd served as president of our group intermittently for the next few years. I think to express the ideals which he carried into his work with the soil, I would like to share with you a poem by Paul Pfund, who was instrumental in bringing together the group which was known as the Natural Food Associates, in which Oscar was very active.
The poem expresses the basis of all living, and Oscar carried through the principles, which are in this poem.
My Creed of the Soil:
I believe in the soil as God’s richest and most bounteous gift to man.
It is the sustainer of his physical being, which embodies his spirit. It abounds in life in its most productive and complex form, yielding unto all who wisely cultivate it, a benevolence and benediction which can be ascribed only and alone to the all-wise creator of the universe.
I sense in the soil an inherent quality so vital and powerful and yet so delicate and sensitive as to merit my best thought, for as in the measure it is truly preserved, so shall man be sustained.
From it spring all forms of life, and they are all nourished.
None is exempt from dependence upon it.
Gratitude and appreciation well up within me for such an abundant provision.
I feel a deep sense of responsibility to my maker.
I do my utmost to exercise proper diligence as keeper of a sacred trust and in the discharge of a faithful stewardship.
Stanley L. Prorok, (ANHS former president and vice president)
I had the pleasure of meeting Oscar Floyd for the first time in February 1958. I was interested in promoting natural hygiene and organic gardening. I sponsored a meeting in the city of Waukegan, Ill., and we invited all organic growers to participate. After the meeting, Oscar Floyd came over to the book table and purchased numerous books, which were the most Hygienic books we had ever sold in Waukegan.
I can say one thing about the man. He was convinced the idea was correct and wasn’t afraid to spend money and devote some time to research. He heard it once, and he knew it had some value, and he was going to promote it.
Before I knew it, he was active in the Chicago group of the Hygienic people at that particular time. There was a group that was not a national organization and did not want to expand its list of speakers. Oscar felt they should expand on a larger scale, and before long, he had formed another group to facilitate expansion. He was an organizer, and he saw that there were ways of doing things that would be beneficial to everyone, which also applied to natural hygiene.
I had occasion to work with him repeatedly, and he was very creative; he had fruitful ideas; he had a way and a knack of planning things; his recommendations were listened to. It was not surprising that he became the national president of the American Natural Hygiene Society.
To him, natural hygiene was akin to organiculture and humanism, as well as many other organizations to which he belonged—an integral part of life. Shortly before he passed away, he told me he wanted to see the College of Natural Hygiene on solid ground, so that we could proceed with educating practitioners who would teach people how to live, thereby avoiding sickness and illness. Oscar was the chairman of the committee responsible for raising funds for the construction of this college.
Generally, he wanted to make this a better place for everyone to live. This was his goal; he said, “I don’t think I’ll ever see the day when it’ll be the way I want it to be, but I’m leaving behind my children and grandchildren, and I’d like to see them have a better world to live in.”
We have to take our hats off to the man for the courage, stamina, work, and effort he put forth. That is what I call dedication. There are not many people right now who are willing to give of their time and their effort to sacrifice everything to promote an idea, which he did.
Jean Lazar, (president, Natural Hygiene-Chicago)
Unlike some of you who knew him personally or through business, and who have today given such poetically beautiful and glowing tributes in memory of Oscar Floyd, my relationship with him has been comparatively recent, primarily through natural hygiene; however, it has spread far beyond that periphery simply by knowing him.
Oscar Floyd is synonymous with hygiene. He dedicated his life to the movement, always giving of his time and energy, as well as supporting it financially. He attended every meeting and every convention, sharing his expertise.
He was a leader in the true sense of the word, planning and promoting ideas that would benefit Hygiene and its members. His latest idea, in the planning stage, which he was going to carry out personally, was to have a home in Chicago for those Hygiene members who might choose to live together for a more pleasant way of life. It would also have been a haven for elderly hygienists. He embraced all of us as if we were his own family. Every summer, we would be invited to enjoy an outing or two at their farm. It was sheer delight for us city folk to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. We were treated royally by our genial hosts, who did everything they could to make those days a pleasure for us. Each summer, much of the food grown on the Floyd farm organically found its way on our dining table.
Oscar Floyd should ever be an inspiration to us so that his dedication to our cause will not have been in vain, and only through our own commitment and support of natural hygiene, as he would have wished with all his heart, can we perpetuate his name.
Ralph Fowler (an associate in Natural Hygiene)
Both of us recognized the limitations of natural hygiene. Both of us recognized its advantages, and we each made our approach to working within the framework of Hygiene, first with ourselves and our families, and to see it grow.
I am sure our discussions on the need for young people were close to Oscar’s heart. I will say that we didn’t always agree. We were both a bit egotistical.
As a tribute to Oscar, I would say that his drive will be greatly missed. His generosity is something that someone is going to have to pick up the tab on. I don’t think there is one person within the scope of knowledge who can do what Oscar did. It will have to be several of us, including me, and many more to pick up and start running with it.
He was a gambler. Oscar was like Kipling- he was willing to put his all on one turn of pitch and toss. This was so typical of him. I recall when he was starting the Hygiene Press, that I wouldn’t have had the intestinal fortitude to go into it the way he did. But he said it’s got to be done. This is the way it’s going to go.
As a tribute to Oscar, I would like to say that natural hygiene needs direction, and it’s got to be pointed in the direction of the kids. Oscar and I have gone through a lot together. I admire the man’s courage, his ability to lead, and his guts. I’m not as good a gambler as Oscar is, but I believe that if I were to say one thing now about Oscar, I would like to reach back and quote from a poem that was current at the time I was young enough to believe that wars were patriotic endeavors.
To you we throw the torch.
Be yours to hold it high.
If you break faith with us, who die
We shall not sleep
Though poppies grow
In Flanders Field.
Stewart Pahl, (an associate in Humanism)
There is no end to what can be said because I think the richness will continue unfolding as we all pass on, and other people will inherit what Oscar Floyd has contributed. The facts about Oscar’s life could never reveal the truth about him. The truth is far more intricate than the sum of all the facts. The truth would be that he, more than any of us, had developed some genius. He thought long, long thoughts, and he spoke in startling visions. He had a capacity for grasping the innermost part of your mind and shaking you. He liked a mental tussle. I never knew Oscar to think in stereotypes or to be limited by conventions.
The phrase “everybody’s doing it” meant absolutely nothing to Oscar. He would never have done anything solely because everybody was doing it. But because he was a genius, he probably required a little bit more understanding than other people at certain times. Because he was such a genius, he was a study in contrasts and paradoxes.
He was a convivial person, but deadly earnest. He was a fearless person, but he was extremely apprehensive as to what might happen to mankind. He was an amiable person, but stubborn and immovable at times. He relished life, but he was fed up with many things, wasn’t he?
He was gentle and gracious, but he also had pungency and tartness. He was individualistic and yet impossibly an organization man. When it came to being ahead of his time, that’s where he shone. I recall his urging me before ecology became popular to tell humanists to spend all their time trying to eliminate waste from the American way of life. He had known long ago that civilization was making a desert out of the planet. Many people have yet to realize this.
He knew that education may include schooling, but that it certainly wasn’t limited to schooling. He knew that education was taking place in the streets, in factories and homes, in saloons, in volunteer organizations, wherever people worked or played together. And he had a certain amount of understandable cynicism about that so-called brand of education being peddled by our schooling system today.
If humanism ever becomes popular, it will be because people are courageous in their thinking habits, and you know who I’m talking about when I mention courage in thinking habits.
Winifred Wallander (an associate in Humanism)
I believe that humanism played a role in shaping his feelings, which in turn influenced some of his ideals. They say nothing is ever lost. It just changes into another form of energy, and I think his energy will still be felt for a long time. I believe the philosophy that guided him was essential, and that was humanism.
To define 20th century humanism in the briefest possible manner, one can say it is the philosophy of joyous service for the greater good of all humanity in this natural world and according to the methods of reason and democracy….a way of thinking and doing for average men and women seeking to lead happy and helpful lives….affirms faith in the essential worth and dignity of every human being and in the capacity of human kind to solve its major problems through mutual cooperation and the scientific method….favors the development of the basic impulses of love, friendliness and cooperation that will impel a person to consider constantly the good of the group and to find personal happiness working for the happiness of all….on the whole, a society in which most individuals regardless of the personal sacrifice that may be involved are devoted to the collective wellbeing, will attain greater happiness and make more progress than one in which private self interest and advancement are the prime motivation….holds as the highest goal the joy, freedom and progress-economic, cultural and ethical-of all humankind.
I am sure that this philosophy inspired Oscar Floyd. I am sure he would like us to follow that, and I am equally certain that this would be the greatest tribute to him.
I think Oscar has joined The Invisible Choir (a poem by George Elliott)
Oh, may I join the choir invisible
Of those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence,
Live impulses stirred to generosity
In deeds of daring rectitude,
In scorn for miserable aims
That ends with self
And thoughts sublime
That pierce the night like stars.
And with their mild persistence
Urge man’s search to vaster issues.
So to live is heaven
May I reach that purest heaven.
Be to other souls
The cup of strength
And some great agony,
And kindle generous ardor,
Feed pure love,
Beget the smiles that have no cruelty,
Be the sweet presence of a good diffuse
And in diffusion, ever more intense
So shall I join the choir invisible,
Whose music is the world’s gladness.
Publications
Floyd, O. (1962, July). THE LINE FORMS. 1962 ANHS Convention Program, pp. 31-32.
https://www.healthscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CONVENTION-1962.-Miami-Beach-FL.pdf
- The essay emphasizes that a powerful movement for change is emerging, rooted in the idea that the individual must reclaim responsibility for their health and life. Despite a world plagued by environmental destruction, institutional failure, and societal sickness, hope lies in individuals who awaken, take control of their health, and begin forming communities of like-minded people.
- This transformation begins personally but gains power collectively, as self-directed groups grow, collaborate, and inspire others—creating a multiplying effect. Unlike coercive or self-serving organizations, these groups aim to restore natural health, personal freedom, and societal well-being.
- The American Natural Hygiene Society is presented as the embodiment of this movement, dedicated to reversing the decline of human health and society through education, personal empowerment, and unity. After 14 years of persistent work, the Society is now poised for a turning point: to expand its influence and spread the Natural Hygiene message across the country.
- The call to action is clear: join the movement, take responsibility, and help lead humanity back to health, vitality, and harmony with nature—before it’s too late.
Floyd, O. (1963, June). ORGANIZING TO GET THE JOB DONE. 1963 ANHS Convention Program, pp. 7.
https://www.healthscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CONVENTION-1963.-San-Diego-CA.pdf
- This passage expresses a growing dissatisfaction with modern life, describing it as exhausting, materialistic, and disconnected from true fulfillment. In response, many people are turning to Natural Hygiene, a philosophy that promotes simple, healthful living without reliance on technology or artificial aids. The American Natural Hygiene Society is composed of individuals who practice and promote this lifestyle, motivated by a desire to share its benefits rather than personal gain.
- The Society encourages participation through membership, forming local chapters, hosting educational events, and spreading literature. Their annual convention and regional meetings serve to educate and connect like-minded individuals. While the challenges ahead are significant, the Society believes that growing public interest and collective action can bring about meaningful change. They invite anyone—even those new to Natural Hygiene—to join, learn, and contribute to the movement.
The NHA wishes to remind the readers that nothing in this or other publications is intended to constitute medical treatment or advice. Readers should be aware that some previous publications do not reflect the NHA’s current health teachings or approach to health in several areas.
Our Mission
The mission of the National Health Association is to educate and empower individuals to understand that health results from healthy living. We recognize the integration of all aspects of health: personal, environmental, and social.
We communicate the benefits of a plant-based diet, exercise and rest, a healthy environment, psychological well-being, and when indicated, the use of fasting.
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