Lloyd B. Floyd
Orator
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The Poca Post is pleased to announce a stamp honoring Lloyd B. Floyd, renowned
Poca County orator.
Lloyd Floyd was born in 1812 in Poca County near the village of Pocatalico. Lloyd developed an ability to speak at a very early age, and by the time he was 12 he had become quite loquacious. This ability brought him attention, and by the time he was 17 he was entered into the curriculum at Williams & Mary College, where he served on the debate team, and graduated with honors. Lloyd returned to the area and began the practice of law. His practice was very successful. His oratorical skills, and his burnished voice put many jurors into a pleasant sleep. When they were awakened for a verdict, they were most always inclined to be favorable to Mr. Floyd’s clients. Lloyd Floyd was one of the speakers in a convention in Wheeling in 1963. Floyd’s passionate speech swayed the convention, and the body voted to secede from the Commonwealth of Virginia to form a new state: West Virginia. Lloyd B. Floyd, Esq. continued his practice until 1864. In that fateful year, Mr. Floyd was engaged to defend Mr. Cephus McCoy for the killing of Rufus Hatfield. Floyd performed his oratorical skills as he had not done before. The results were twofold: Mr. McCoy was acquitted, and three days later, Mr. Floyd was shot by Jake Hatfield. Thus ended the brilliant career of one of the greatest orators in the history of the Poca River Basin. The stamp was issued on 24 February, 2002 in a pane of 20 stamps with the domination of 70 Poca Units. |