1. Floyd Harold Flake was born on January 30,1945 and is an American businessman, minister, and former politician who was the senior pastor of the 23,000-member Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral in Jamaica, Queens, New York, and the 18th president of Wilberforce University.
Floyd Flake is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1987 to 1997.
Floyd Flake earned a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
Floyd Flake received honorary degrees from Boston University, Fisk University, Lincoln University, and the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
Floyd Flake served as a social worker and then worked for Xerox as a marketing analyst.
Floyd Flake next worked as director of student affairs at Lincoln University and dean of students and director of the Afro-American Center at Boston University.
Floyd Flake served as president of Wilberforce University from 2002 to 2008, leaving under heavy, publicized scrutiny and severe critique over his impact on the school.
Floyd Flake is a political patron of New York Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith and Democratic US Representative Gregory Meeks.
Floyd Flake remained in the House of Representatives until 1997, when he resigned in the middle of a term in order to return to work at his church full-time.
In Congress, Floyd Flake garnered a reputation for working with conservative Republicans, despite representing an overwhelmingly liberal, Democratic district.
In 1991, Flake joined an amicus brief in support of the New York City Council in the case Richmond Boro Gun Club v City of New York, which upheld the council's prohibition on "the possession or transfer" within New York City of "assault weapons" and certain ammunition feeding devices.
Floyd Flake has an ownership interest in Aqueduct Race Track Entertainment Group which in January 2010 was awarded a contract to operate a 4,500 slot machine racino at the Aqueduct Race Track by then-Governor David Paterson.
The process generated controversy after claims had been made that Paterson required affirmative action ownership in the company, that AEG was allowed to change its bid from the lowest to the highest and because Paterson allegedly awarded the bid two days after Floyd Flake threatened to back Andrew Cuomo in the 2010 governor race.
On March 9,2010, Floyd Flake withdrew from the project saying that it was distracting from his other projects.
Floyd Flake serves as a member of the following boards: The President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education; The Fannie Mae Foundation; The Princeton Review; The New York City Investment Fund Civic Capital Corporation; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Advisory Committee on Banking Policy and the Bank of America National Advisory Board.
Floyd Flake is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.
Floyd Flake is married to Margaret Elaine McCollins and has four children.