Community honors citizen of the year

Lifelong Floyd resident, community servant, Christian and jack-of-all-trades Alvis Griffith has been named Floyd’s Citizen of the Year.

The award was presented at Floyd’s 59th Annual Country Jamboree Saturday night.

Griffith said he thanked his family and friends, as well the Floyd Lions Club.

“I am greatly honored,” Griffith said. “I appreciate it, I appreciate the wonderful community we have in here in Floyd.”

Griffith’s longtime friends Nelson and Rose Rector nominated him for the honor.

“He’s been a very, very strong, reliable, trustworthy man, as long as I’ve known him, and I’ve know him all my life,” Rector said.

Griffith, 82, has spent all of his life in Floyd, except two years with the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater of World War II and stationed in Japan. His great-grandchildren living in the area are sixth-generation Floyd residents.

Rector said Griffith fought fires in Floyd when the only available equipment was a wet tow sack, a broom or a shovel.

Griffith’s son Danny, who lives in Floyd, said his father supported school functions when his boys were involved and continues to do so. Alvis Griffith has been involved in Floyd Church of Christ for more than 40 years.

Harold Widener, member of the Floyd Lions Club selection committee for the award, said Griffith helped dig graves when there were no mechanical tools for the job. Griffith also assisted with getting permits and laying pipeline for Floyd’s water system.

“The community’s in a lot better shape now by his presence than it would have been,” Widener said.

Griffith has also worked as a farmer, rancher, carpenter, school maintenance employee, propane truck driver and Roosevelt County road grader driver. Now retired, he lives on a farm and keeps cattle, Widener said.

A family man, Griffith has four sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He has outlived two wives and one son.

Danny Griffith said his father is always his role model. He said Griffith taught his sons to work, be honest and be good neighbors.

“And he taught all of us to believe in God,” Danny Griffith continued.

Rector said Griffith is a strong Christian and has a lot of character.

“Alvis is so humble and unassuming, I hope he’s there to accept the award,” Rector said Friday night.