Former Assemblyman Dick Floyd Dies

Former state Assemblyman Dick Floyd, who authored California's 1992 motorcycle helmet law, died Thursday at his home in Sacramento due to complications from diabetes, City News Service reported. He was 80.

Floyd served as the 53rd Assembly District representative in the 1980s and the representative for the 55th Assembly District from 1996-2000. North Redondo Beach was part of the 53rd Assembly District while Floyd represented it.

Born Richard E. Floyd on Feb. 3, 1931 to Herbert and Viola Floyd in Philadelphia, Floyd was the third of six children. In 1944, the family moved west after his father was critically wounded in the Pacific during World War II, according to Floyd's nephew Brian. Dick Floyd's father was sent to the Long Beach Naval Hospital to recover, after which the family settled in Lawndale.

Floyd graduated from Leuzinger High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He earned a Purple Heart for surviving a shoulder wound in the Korean War.

He worked for the late Sen. Ralph Dills from 1966 until 1980, when he was first elected to the state Assembly.

Politically, Floyd was known as a "trash-talking Democrat," according to City News Service. While volunteering for the late U.S. Rep. Glenn Anderson, Floyd performed what he supposedly called "urban cleanup"—collected signs posted for Anderson's opponent, Ted Bruinsma.

Former Gardena Mayor Donald Dear said Floyd had 800 Bruinsma signs in his back yard.

Floyd was also suspected of cutting down a Republican billboard in Torrance in the 1960s, and in another election, he plastered Democratic campaign posters over those belonging to Republicans.

Floyd is survived by two daughters, Lorene and Rikki; two brothers, Herbert and Robert; and his two sisters, Gloria and Ruth.

City News Service contributed to this report.