Floyd L. Downs, 90, passed away on July 28, 2021. A graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, Harvard University, Columbia University; he served in 245th Tank Battalion with United States Army, 1952-1954. He taught mathematics for 52 years to students in public and private high schools and to undergraduate and graduate students at ASU. Floyd retired from ASU in 2007.

He is the co-author of GEOMETRY, a popular high school text first published in 1964, last revision in 1991. The text appears in several languages and is still used internationally.



Floyd established the Floyd L. Downs Foundation at ASU to support an annual fellowship award to graduate students in the Department of Mathematics preparing to teach or research improved teaching of mathematics in secondary schools. His professional activities included leadership roles in National Council Teachers of Mathematics and National Council Supervisors of Mathematics; National Committee 2d International Mathematics Study, 1979-1986; Golden State Mathematics Committee CA 1985-1991; Executive Director of Arizona Mathematics Coalition, 1991-1996.



Floyd is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Lenci Downs, a sister, two children, three grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Donation in Floyd's name to The Floyd L. downs Teaching of Mathematics Fellowship  Services will be private. (Source: ASU Foundation)