Jim Lloyd's career path reads like something out of a hero novel. While in the Navy between 1942 and 1963, he was an expert flier who served on several aircraft carriers. During the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 he was director of public affairs and Cold War activities at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. He also served in Congress and was the former mayor of West Covina, Calif.
Lloyd, '58, died February 2 from injuries sustained in a solo car crash in Pensacola, Fla. He was 89.
Lloyd grew up on farms in Washington state and Canada. He graduated from Stanford with a bachelor's degree in political science and obtained a master's degree from USC in 1966. After grad school, Lloyd and his wife, Jackie, founded a public relations firm in West Covina. In 1968 he was elected to the city council, and in 1973, Lloyd was sworn in as mayor. In 1975, he was elected as a congressman serving California's 35th District and served until 1981.
Vying for a fourth congressional term, the centrist Democrat lost a hard-fought battle to Republican David Dreier, who remains in office. Despite starting out as political adversaries, Lloyd and Dreier "became the best of friends," Dreier says. "He spoke at one of my big campaign fund-raising events, and he and Jackie were the most kind and generous people. I miss his warmth, his sense of humor, and most of all his advice and counsel."
After leaving office, Lloyd remained in Washington, D.C., where he and Jackie, '47, established a consulting firm. The couple was married for 63 years until Jackie's death in June 2011.
Lloyd is survived by his son, Brian, and two grandsons.
Julie Muller Mitchell, ’79, is a writer in San Francisco.
