Running on Floyd Time: A Tribute to Tom Ryan
“Floyd Time” has not only been a theme in Ryan’s designs, but the phrase also fits his self-effacing laid-back attitude. His longish hair and signature Hawaiian shirts belied his business savvy and his college degree.
This article first appeared in the special Holiday Edition of Floyd Times, which published on Dec. 10.
Yeah, though I walk through the Valley of tie-dye and tofu I shall fear no evil for though I am in Floyd, I am not of Floyd. Thy art is with me. Thy grants & Thy tax subsidies comfort me. Mine is the kingdom & glory of slackers & Hatcher Burgers. I will two-step & high lonesome in green pastures. I will seek the stills next to spring waters & getteth me a table at Oddfellas without reservations. Shirley, or one of my ex-wives will haunt me all the days of my life & I will dwell in the Hotel Floyd forever.
— Floydian Prayer by Tom Ryan
The late Tom Ryan may not have coined the term “Running on Floyd Time,” but he elevated its sentiment in his business and in the way he lived. Ryan was the original owner and the visionary behind the Republic of Floyd, the popular downtown Emporium that features craft beers, wines, gourmet snacks, gifts, and brand merchandise with a humorous twist.
Designed by Ryan and drawn by commissioned artist Emily Williamson, Republic of Floyd hats, t-shirts, and art posters were described by Ryan as takeoffs in the blended styles of Soviet Communist posters, San Francisco poster art of the 60’s, playing cards, Looney Tunes, and more.
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When Ryan passed away unexpectedly in the winter of 2013, his close friends banded together to buy the business and keep his legacy alive. More recently, the shop was purchased by Terry Tishman, who is skillfully carrying on the tradition. Tishman had previously worked at the Republic of Floyd and with Ryan at his Floydfest booth when she wasn’t fulfilling her duties as the festival’s Area Director of Administration.
“Floyd Time” has not only been a theme in Ryan’s designs, but the phrase also fits his self-effacing laid-back attitude. His longish hair and signature Hawaiian shirts belied his business savvy and his college degree. Along with being a successful entrepreneur, Ryan was also a local bartender, a music event promoter, the founder of a long-time annual Mardi Gras fundraiser for Blue Mountain School, an art agent for under-celebrated local artists, a festival vendor, a one-time Chamber of Commerce Vice President, the author of Floyd Family Dysfunctional Cookbook and the founder of Floyd Family DysFUNctional Picnic.
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Ryan was also a noted satirical writer of “The Floyd Enquirer,” a Floyd-centric online and email publication that featured his tongue-in-cheek stories, advice columns, and mock scandals with titles like “Curse of the Cute Puppy Syndrome,” “The Floyd Gene Pool,” “Ask a Hippy,” “The Floyd Rumor Mill,” “The Buddhism of Bartending: How May I Serve You?,” and “A Visitors Guide to Floyd.” No one was immune from being spoofed in Ryan’s stories, including himself. He frequently invented nicknames for friends and referred to well-known Floyd hang-outs and landmarks.
Inside jokes, tourist tips, and other Tom Foolery kept his readers entertained. One of his Enquirer missives began: The ubiquitous “Floyd Wave,” performed when approaching another vehicle, has been a hallmark of local civility for generations. However, due to the influx of new residents and the increasing number of tourists, the Floyd County Board of Supervisors will be publishing a handbook on the etiquette of the “Floyd Wave.”
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Another entry concluded with advice to tourists, “During your Floyd wanderings remember… a little bit of tie-dye goes a long way! He jokingly referred to the mountains of Floyd as “Your End Times Destination” and created a high fantasy styled Republic of Floyd map based on the county.
"Floyd’s version of Will Rogers meets Robin Williams, someone who rarely bites his tongue and is more often known for getting it stuck in his own cheek,” is how one fellow writer describes Ryan. Another referred to him as a “pillar in the Floyd community, an unapologetic writer, a jester and a good soul.”
In recognition of Ryan’s writing, his entrepreneurship, his fun-loving spirit and his engagement in the community, the group that formed Floyd Times — the independent community news source that was launched in July 2025 — had Tom Ryan in mind when they named the publication.
It’s not hard to imagine that if Ryan were still with us, he might be writing for Floyd Times, Running on Floyd Time, of course.
