Floyd Flake | |
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 | |
| 18th President ofWilberforce University | |
| In office 2002–2008 | |
| Preceded by | John Henderson |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Hardaway |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – November 17, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Alton Waldon |
| Succeeded by | Gregory Meeks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Floyd Harold Flake (1945-01-30)January 30, 1945 (age 80) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Margaret McCollins |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Wilberforce University (BA) Northeastern University St. John's University Payne Theological Seminary United Theological Seminary (MDiv,DMin) |
Floyd Harold Flake (born January 30, 1945) is an American businessman, minister, and former politician who was the senior pastor of the 23,000-memberGreater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral inJamaica,Queens,New York, and the 18th president ofWilberforce University. He is a former member of theUnited States House of Representatives, serving from 1987 to 1997.
Born inLos Angeles,California, Flake grew up inHouston,Texas, as one of fifteen children of Robert Flake, Sr. and Rosie Lee Johnson-Flake. During his childhood, he was influenced by his parents'Christian moral beliefs. After high school, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree fromWilberforce University inWilberforce, Ohio, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college.
Flake earned aMaster of Divinity andDoctor of Ministry from theUnited Theological Seminary inDayton, Ohio. Additional studies were conducted atPayne Theological Seminary andNortheastern University School of Business. He received honorary degrees from Boston University,Fisk University, Lincoln University, and theCheyney University of Pennsylvania.[1]
He served as a social worker and then worked forXerox as a marketing analyst. Flake next worked as director of student affairs atLincoln University and dean of students and director of the Afro-American Center atBoston University. In 1976, he was asked to head the AllenAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church (now The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York). Under Flake's leadership, the church grew from having about 1,400 members to over 23,000 parishioners.
Flake served as president ofWilberforce University from 2002 to 2008, leaving under heavy, publicized scrutiny and severe critique over his impact on the school. He is a political patron ofNew York Senate Democratic LeaderMalcolm Smith and Democratic U.S. RepresentativeGregory Meeks. Despite his affiliation with the Democratic party, in 2006 he was the co-chair of conservative RepublicanKen Blackwell's (R) campaign for governor ofOhio and endorsedMichael Bloomberg in the2005 New York City mayoral election.
In 1986, he defeated incumbent Democratic congressmanAlton Waldon in the primary and was elected to the100th United States Congress from theNew York's 6th congressional district, which includedJamaica, Queens, and most of its surrounding neighborhoods, stretching fromOzone Park andWoodhaven to the border withNassau County. He remained in theHouse of Representatives until 1997, when he resigned in the middle of a term in order to return to work at his church full-time.
In Congress, Flake garnered a reputation for working with conservative Republicans, despite representing an overwhelmingly liberal, Democratic district. He also endorsed RepublicansGeorge Pataki for New York State Governor andRudy Giuliani for New York City mayor.
In 1991, Flake joined an amicus brief in support of theNew York City Council in the caseRichmond Boro Gun Club v. City of New York, which upheld the council's prohibition on "the possession or transfer" within New York City of "assault weapons" and certain ammunition feeding devices.
Flake has an ownership interest in Aqueduct Race Track Entertainment Group (AEG) which in January 2010 was awarded a contract to operate a 4,500slot machineracino at theAqueduct Race Track by then-GovernorDavid Paterson. The process generated controversy after claims had been made that Paterson requiredaffirmative action ownership in the company (rapperJay-Z also joined AEG), that AEG was allowed to change its bid from the lowest to the highest and because Paterson allegedly awarded the bid two days after Flake threatened to backAndrew Cuomo in the 2010 governor race. U.S. prosecutors reportedly investigated the process and New York house speakerSheldon Silver threatened not to sign off on the deal. Paterson has maintained there was noquid pro quo.[2] On March 9, 2010, Flake withdrew from the project saying that it was distracting from his other projects. Jay-Z and Paterson also withdrew from the projects.[3][4]
Flake is the senior pastor of theGreater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York inJamaica, Queens,New York City. According to a published marketing message, "The church and its subsidiary corporations operate with an annual budget of over $34 million. The church also owns expansive commercial and residential developments; a 750-student private school founded by Flake and his wife Elaine, and various commercial and social service enterprises, which has placed it among the nation's most productive religious and urban development institutions. The corporations, church administrative offices, school, and ministries comprise one of the Borough of Queens' largest private sector employers." The Church is recognized as a major real estate developer.
Flake serves as a member of the following boards: (1) The President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education; (2) TheFannie Mae Foundation; (3)The Princeton Review; (4) The New York City Investment Fund Civic Capital Corporation; (5) theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation Advisory Committee on Banking Policy and (6) theBank of America National Advisory Board.[1] He is also a fellow at theManhattan Institute for Policy Research.
In honor of his role as a Queens community leader,Merrick Boulevard in southeastern Queens was renamed for Flake in October 2020.[5][6]
Flake is married to Margaret Elaine McCollins and has four children.[citation needed]
In 1990, Flake and his wife wereindicted for alleged fraud and embezzlement of church funds. The couple pleaded not guilty. In 1991, after hearing three weeks of prosecution witnesses, the judge assigned to the case dismissed so much of the prosecutor's case that he opted to drop all remaining charges. Interviews with jurors afterward indicated that, had the prosecutor opted to continue prosecution, the jury would not have found the couple guilty of any of these remaining charges.[7]
| External videos | |
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 Booknotes interview with Flake onThe Way of the Bootstrapper, July 4, 1999,C-SPAN |
Flake has published several books, includingThe Way of the Bootstrapper: Nine Action Steps for Achieving Your Dreams (ISBN 0-06-251596-9) in 1999.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 6th congressional district 1987–1997 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
