Starr, Floyd Elliot, 1883-1980

Floyd Starr was the founder and president of the Starr Commonwealth for Boys in Albion, Michigan. Born in Decatur, Michigan, on May 1, 1883, Starr graduated from Marshall High School, then worked for several years in a half-way house in St. Louis, Missouri. He returned to Michigan where he attended Albion College, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1910. He was employed for a brief time at the Bernarr McFadden's Healthatorium in Chicago. He then went to work at the Beulah Home for Boys. With a burden for delinquent, homeless, and neglected boys, Starr had hopes of establishing his own nonprofit home and residential school for these boys. In 1913, he was able to purchase forty acres of land on Montcalm Lake. From this beginning developed the Starr Commonwealth for Boys which Starr guided for more than fifty years as president. He retired from active administrative responsibilities in 1967, but continued to provide guidance until his death on August 27, 1980, at the age of 97.

From the guide to the Floyd Starr papers, 1933-1970, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

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