Senior Center Names Pickleball Court After Floyd

The Sparta-White County Senior Center’s new pickleball court named in honor of Jim Floyd for his work as the center’s interim director.

Senior Center Director Jayne Guy said Floyd was a key part of the revitalization of the center. Floyd said he was surprised by the award and is deeply grateful to both the city and members of the senior center who chose to honor him like this.

“We had a grand opening and invited the public, a grand re-opening I guess I should say, and we fed them lunch and they brought me up front, and that’s when he announced it,” Floyd said. “So I was completely surprised.”

Guy said that Floyd was personally involved in the cleaning, painting, and organizing needed to get the center up and running on top of his administrative work. Guy said there is a banner at the court with Floyd’s name on it, and an accompanying plaque will be put up soon.

“(He) put a lot of hard work and time and dedication and ideas into making the center what it is – has evolved into now,” Guy said. “And so, in recognition of all that dedication as interim director, they wanted to present that to him.”

Guy said Floyd had a very clear vision of how he wanted people to smile when they came to the center.

“I’ve had a lot of people say to me as they come through the door what a happy place this looks like and how it puts a smile on their face, and that is exactly his intent of – that he wished for when he did put in all of his hard work,” Guy said.

Guy said Floyd continues to be involved with the center as a member of its board.

“I’m very glad that we are naming the pickleball court after him, and I think that that’s a perfect way for us to repay him for all that he’s done for us,” Guy said.