The Rev. Floyd Cronkite, credited with founding the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Bothell nearly 50 years ago, died earlier this month following a long battle with cancer. Floyd was 78.
It was no surprise that most of those attending his memorial service commented on the positive, lasting impact he had on their spiritual lives. After all, he had a degree in psychology, as well as in theology. They had come to appreciate his rather quiet, reserved manner of communication — typical of an upbringing in his native state of Maine and the city of Waterville.
But Floyd made an impact on our community life, as well. He was thoughtful about how life in the church should be extended beyond that of his congregation.
While in the difficult phase of starting his congregation, going door to door in Bothell and locating a school room for the first services, Floyd didn’t shrink from joining a handful of Bothell residents concerned about housing discrimination issues popping up in this then small town out north and east of Seattle. He joined a line of picketers in protest of the Maywood Hills builder’s and local lender’s practice, which precluded persons of color to purchase in this relatively new Bothell neighborhood.
Not necessarily a way to get off on a good foot in this conservative community, nevertheless the principled minister in Floyd had prevailed even as he sought to make an impression on potential church members in his new community. He was just barely getting acquainted with a Bothell of old.
In late 1969, he was among residents shocked by a wave of “drug busts” in Bothell and a series of unfortunate high-school hallway assaults, which prompted a major drug investigation by Bothell police. One drug sweep netted 33 youths under the age of 18.
In 1969 and 1970, Floyd was one of nine civic leaders who met every Friday morning at 7 a.m. over concerns for the city’s youths and apparent family communication breakdowns that had led to growing youth alienation issues. They formed the Northshore Council for Youth, bringing together representatives of police, school and business to explore the alarming questions of “drugs”, dropouts and delinquency — all subjects heretofore seldom discussed publicly in Bothell circles or homes.
From two years of early morning conversations and sessions with invited experts, the group was instrumental in either starting or encouraging funding for the Northshore Recreation Council, the juvenile court conference committee (diversion program), a drop-in center for teenagers (the INC Spot), a youth employment service and greater attention to mental health issues engaging families and school administrators. Floyd encouraged his fellow church leaders in the Northshore communities to add their support.
He contributed to a widely read report to the community, “Widespread teenage drug abuse is not “the” problem, but rather such drug abuse is the manifestation of other and deeper concerns about ourselves as individuals, as families, and as a part of a community and a society.”
He later continued an interest in community service, joining the Northshore Rotary Club with strong encouragement from his congregation. He later became the club president. Always observant, he noted that the unincorporated Woodinville community was rapidly developing an identity of its own.
Over the consternation of a number of club members, Floyd urged a handful of his members out the door and to Woodinville to charter a Rotary club that would embrace business and professional leaders to the east of Interstate 405, the freeway fast becoming an identity barrier that few in Bothell or Kenmore would recognize or admit.
Those 14 Northshore Rotarians grew to become 33 Woodinville Rotarians and the new club was chartered in January of 1987.
His friends in Rotary knew him as “Floyd the Humble,” in recognition of his New England roots and for his manner of leadership. I can’t recall if he ever got the credit he deserved for the many kindnesses and encouraging words he spread throughout Northshore. Not many knew that his theology degree was from Harvard. Many, however, heard stories how competitive he could be on the tennis court. He played the baritone horn in the University of Washington alumni band at Husky football games and on band trips to China and Scandinavia. He took family trips to Peru and Egypt.
Floyd and Sherry were married 56 years and doted on daughter Debbie and son Paul and four grandchildren.
Floyd retired on May 2, 1993, the day after he performed our daughter Patricia’s May Day wedding; 31 years after his first service in Bothell’s downtown elementary school.
John B. Hughes was owner-publisher of the Northshore Citizen from 1961 to 1988.
