ARNOLD 'FLOYD' BEAM
Class of 1943
Inducted in 2025 |
Floyd was inducted posthumously into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 2025.
Floyd graduated from South in 1943. Floyd’s path to Omaha South started in a tiny shack outside of Hamburg, Iowa. The family was very poor, and he spent his days hunting, fishing, foraging for edibles, chopping wood, and working at a nearby nursery. A wealthy aunt visited and convinced his parents that Floyd needed a good education to rise from poverty. She insisted that the education had to come from a “superior and excellent” school. Her choice was Omaha South. The parents consented, and Floyd moved to Omaha to attend South. After graduating, Floyd joined the Army/Air Force where he trained as a tail gunner. He became a member of the 379th 8th Air Force, B-17 bomber group. That unit was the first to fly at 32,000 feet to evade detection. After their first trial run, Floyd found that the orange he had in his thermal flight suit had frozen. During WW II, bomber units were asked to attempt 25 missions. Upon completion, they were allowed to go home. Floyd’s unit, flying the Hellcat Agnes, flew 35 missions, carrying a need to continue to help with the war and their all-consuming patriotism. During one mission, their plane was heavily damaged. The pilot and Floyd were able to land the plane and to this day, the 379th flying unit is considered to be one of the best and fiercest fighter groups of WWII. They were the only unit in WWII awarded the “Grand Slam” award. Upon returning home, Floyd joined the Omaha Police Department. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Floyd walked the beat and then became the head of vice/narcotics. He finished his career at the helm of Burglary Investigations. Floyd served 37 years with OPD. During that time, he initiated and started the Police Color Guard unit, which is still active today. Floyd and two other officers pooled their money and started the Omaha Police Credit Union out of the trunk of a car. When they finally opened an office at the Center Mall, Floyd worked there as a second job. Today, thanks to that dream, it is a thriving financial institution. Floyd had an energy and “git’ er done” spirit that was infectious and touched many, many lives. His wise aunt obviously saw that spirit in him and knew that she had to intervene. Floyd passed away on December 20, 2008 at 84 years of age. He is missed daily by those who remember his daring, fierce spirit. He embodied the spirit we hope that each and every South graduate carries with them as they set out on their own life path. |