Floyd Steven Little was born, along with his fraternal twin Lloyd Sterling Little, on March 7, 1937 in Clovis, New Mexico. The twins were a surprise to their parents and three much older siblings. When they were 12, they learned how to drive a car. When they were 14 they sent away for their driver’s licenses – they didn’t need to take a test for a license back then.
By the time they were 15, all their siblings had migrated to California. Floyd and Lloyd wanted to move there as well. Their mother didn’t want to go so the twins announced that they were moving with or without them. Consequently, their parents helped pack up the car and the twins took turns driving cross-country, settling in Clovis, California. On the way, they were delayed by the 1952 Kern County 7.3 magnitude earthquake. They were ascending the Grapevine on Highway 99 when it occurred. Due to the debris and subsequent mayhem, the family was stranded on the highway for 8 hours, significantly worrying their siblings.
They attended Clovis High School where Floyd joined the track team as a sprinter, a trait he would later pass down to his daughter. They weren’t allowed to graduate until they passed the school’s driver’s training course. Their argument that they had already been driving for years fell on deaf ears and they reluctantly took the class. Floyd graduated from Fresno State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. While attending college, he worked for Santa Fe Railroad’s engineering department, and for a construction company at the Tioga Pass expansion in Yosemite National Park. After graduation, he landed a job with the City of Sanger where he eventually became Director of Public Works and Planning.
He decided to make a career change and became a realtor for his nephew-in-law’s subdivision. When the subdivision was sold-out, he began working at the California Department of Transportation as a permit engineer issuing permits for encroachments within the state, including special events. This enviable position required that he be on location for events that were on the state right-of-way. He was able to meet famous people such as Daryl Hannah, Rosie Perez, Andy Garcia and even famous artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude when they created the temporary work of art entitled The Umbrellas along Interstate 5 through the California Grapevine.
Upon retirement, he extensively traveled including places like Egypt and Ireland. Throughout his life he was a great lover of dogs. He was never without one, or two, or five of them at his side. The wreath on his door where he lived said ‘Dogs welcome, people tolerated.’ Those who knew him will smile knowingly at this phrase.
He died of a combination of lung cancer, stroke and dementia. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Jolene & Robert Polyack, his grandsons RJ and Michael Polyack, his son Jerad Little, and his brother and sister-in-law Lloyd and Nancy Little. He is laid to rest close to his siblings and parents, Oras and Effie Little, at the Clovis Cemetery in Clovis, California. Many of the Little family are also buried at the Clovis Cemetery in Clovis, New Mexico.
By the time they were 15, all their siblings had migrated to California. Floyd and Lloyd wanted to move there as well. Their mother didn’t want to go so the twins announced that they were moving with or without them. Consequently, their parents helped pack up the car and the twins took turns driving cross-country, settling in Clovis, California. On the way, they were delayed by the 1952 Kern County 7.3 magnitude earthquake. They were ascending the Grapevine on Highway 99 when it occurred. Due to the debris and subsequent mayhem, the family was stranded on the highway for 8 hours, significantly worrying their siblings.
They attended Clovis High School where Floyd joined the track team as a sprinter, a trait he would later pass down to his daughter. They weren’t allowed to graduate until they passed the school’s driver’s training course. Their argument that they had already been driving for years fell on deaf ears and they reluctantly took the class. Floyd graduated from Fresno State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. While attending college, he worked for Santa Fe Railroad’s engineering department, and for a construction company at the Tioga Pass expansion in Yosemite National Park. After graduation, he landed a job with the City of Sanger where he eventually became Director of Public Works and Planning.
He decided to make a career change and became a realtor for his nephew-in-law’s subdivision. When the subdivision was sold-out, he began working at the California Department of Transportation as a permit engineer issuing permits for encroachments within the state, including special events. This enviable position required that he be on location for events that were on the state right-of-way. He was able to meet famous people such as Daryl Hannah, Rosie Perez, Andy Garcia and even famous artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude when they created the temporary work of art entitled The Umbrellas along Interstate 5 through the California Grapevine.
Upon retirement, he extensively traveled including places like Egypt and Ireland. Throughout his life he was a great lover of dogs. He was never without one, or two, or five of them at his side. The wreath on his door where he lived said ‘Dogs welcome, people tolerated.’ Those who knew him will smile knowingly at this phrase.
He died of a combination of lung cancer, stroke and dementia. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Jolene & Robert Polyack, his grandsons RJ and Michael Polyack, his son Jerad Little, and his brother and sister-in-law Lloyd and Nancy Little. He is laid to rest close to his siblings and parents, Oras and Effie Little, at the Clovis Cemetery in Clovis, California. Many of the Little family are also buried at the Clovis Cemetery in Clovis, New Mexico.
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