Lew Wilson Loyd, Sr., 96, of Bridgeport, Ala., died on Friday, March 6, 2009.
He was born on December 28, 1912 in Bridgeport, Ala., to John Roland and Lula Williams Loyd, Sr. His paternal grandparents were A.C. “Sandy” and Malinda Louise Tennessee Johnson Loyd, who was a second cousin to President Andrew Johnson. His maternal grandparents were Francis Marion and Martha Kansas Wynne Williams.
A veteran of the US Army Field Artillery, he had been a member of the South Pittsburg Lions Club for over 35 years and a member of the Board of Directors of First Bank of Marion County from 1961-1994.
Educated in the public schools of Bridgeport, Ala. and Freed Hardeman College in Henderson, Tenn., Mr. Loyd had served on the board of trustees of Freed Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee since 1976. The University’s auditorium was named Loyd Auditorium in 1982, in honor of L. W. Loyd, Sr. and his family - including his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Loyd, Sr. In 1983, the University awarded to him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
From 1929 until 1942, he assisted his father in the operation of a general store, cotton gin, flour-grist and feed mill, and cotton warehouse. He also owned and operated Marion County Gin Company in South Pittsburg from 1938-1947, Farm Supply Company Manufacturing Feeds, Wholesale Feed and Seeds and Farm Supplies from 1946 until 1953. As the years passed, Mr. Loyd began to focus more on fireworks, which became his lifelong passion. He was the Founder and President of L. W. Loyd Company, Inc., established in 1932, importers of fireworks, Space Age Manufacturing Company, Inc., established in 1968, manufacturers of fireworks, and Atomic Fireworks Distribution Centers in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, Bishopville, South Carolina, Millbrook, Alabama and Springfield, Missouri, distributors of fireworks.
Shortly after the US dropped the Atomic bomb on Japan, he rushed to register the “Atomic” trade name with the US patent office. Later, he again beat many in the fireworks industry by registering “M-80”, “M-90”, “Cherry Bomb”, “Cherry Brand”, “Space Age” and “Comet” brands which have been used for fireworks, sparklers and other items.
He was a Co-Founder and Charter member of the American Pyrotechnics Association established in 1947, serving two terms as President, for about 17 years as First Vice-President, and on the Board of Directors until 1991. He also served as the Chairman of the APA Legislative Committee for over 25 years. In 1991, Mr. Loyd was honored as the first living person to be inducted into the American Pyrotechnics Association Hall of Fame, after serving the fireworks industry for over 46 years.
Mr. Loyd worked diligently as a promoter of quality and safety, always fighting against dangerous, illegal fireworks. Tennessee and Alabama statutes regulating fireworks were personally crafted by L. W. Loyd, Sr., and he assisted in drafting similar bills in several other states, making personal presentations in Committee and helping pass bills which have become models for Class C fireworks legislation, including strong penalties for the manufacture, importation, sale or use of substandard fireworks. The Tennessee fireworks law was completely redrafted in 1990 by Mr. Loyd, with the help of legislative service authorized by Senator Ray Albright of Chattanooga and Shelby Rhinehart of Spencer, members of the Tennessee Legislature and good personal friends of Mr. Loyd.
During his many years in the fireworks business, he made 40 trips to the Far East, including 32 trips to China and 18 around-the-world trips. He visited Russia 4 times and toured the Holy Land 3 times.
Mr. Loyd moved from Bridgeport to South Pittsburg in 1943. He served as Mayor of South Pittsburg for 15 years – the longest tenure in the city’s history. During his four terms as Mayor, he was named Tennessee Mayor of the Year in 1963 by the Tennessee Municipal League.
Baptized in Bridgeport at age 11, Mr. Loyd was a member of the Bridgeport Church of Christ from 1924-1943 and of the South Pittsburg Church of Christ since 1943. He drew the plans and supervised construction for the present Church of Christ building in South Pittsburg in late 1952 and later drew the plans for the annex fellowship room with the help of Chattanooga architect David Lyons. He maintained his membership at the South Pittsburg church and attended there regularly until his health prevented him from taking an active part in the congregation that he considered his home. His support for the church never wavered - continuing despite his physical absence.
After returning to live in Bridgeport in 1985, he helped organize the Bridgeport Area Historic Association in 1987 and served as its President from 1987 until 1991. He persuaded CSX railroad to donate the depot building to the association and the city.
Mr. Loyd semi-retired in 1988 and his son, Lew Wilson Loyd, Jr. assumed general management of the various family business operations.
He was preceded in death by his younger son, John Leslie Loyd; his wife, Aveline Miller Loyd; and his brothers, John, Marion, Jack, and A. C. “Sandy” Loyd.
He is survived by his children, Carol Evelyn Loyd of Atlanta, Lew Wilson (Jody) Loyd, Jr. of South Pittsburg, Tenn., and Lucy Elizabeth (Dr. Jack) Henningfield of Baltimore, Md.; grandchildren, Jocelyn Loyd (Curt) Gill and Lew Wilson (Katie) Loyd, III, of Chattanooga, Jana Loyd (Rob) Barnett of South Pittsburg, Leslie Morgan Harwell and Travis Loyd Henningfield both of NY, and Vincent Brady Henningfield of Baltimore; great-grandchildren, Davis, Curtis and Louisa Gill, Raulston Barnett, and Lew Wilson Loyd IV and Addison Loyd; brother, David (Virginia) Loyd of Bridgeport; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Loyd’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Katie Case, Shirley Robbins, Bonnie Hutch, Trilby Dunn and Helen Durham for the incredibly tender and loving care they provided to Mr. Loyd over the past eight years.
Funeral services will be conducted from the South Pittsburg Church of Christ on Monday, at 1 p.m. CDT with Ministers James Warren and Bill Helm officiating. Interment will follow at Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Sunday, from 6 to 9 p.m. CDT at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the South Pittsburg Church of Christ, 410 4th Street, South Pittsburg, TN 37380.