Pat and I first met Loyd in the late nineties, not long after we purchased SynAudCon from Don and Carolyn Davis. Those first few years were as tough as they are with any new business. I personally was a little discouraged. Loyd sat down with me at a trade show and helped me see how important SynAudCon is to the audio industry. For a man of his reputation and pedigree to share his wisdom with me meant a lot. I knew the value in his words and I took them seriously.

Throughout the years we stayed friends. We were always eager to catch up with him at the trade shows. He was quite the visionary with great business chops. As his illness progressed and he suffered from physical limitations, he continued to carry out his visions by partnering with other companies. He obviously had an amazing ability to put his mind over his physical symptoms.

I would describe Loyd as a “determined fighter” who had a way of bringing the best out of everyone around him. He was quite the inspiration to Pat and I and would venture to say he inspired most everyone around him.

Loyd was a HUGE personal inspirational character in my life. Even after I sold the business we would chat every year at CES when I was attending.

Loyd Ivey and Hardy Martin (founder of IED) were special people and when they were together in the same room, they were quite a pair. They both loved to discuss AV, their airplanes, and most of all their children. Loyd was a good friend and always ready to help our industry.

I joined the MiTek corporation in 1999 when the company acquired Atlas/Soundolier. Loyd immediately placed emphasis on filling our warehouse with abundant inventory of every product we manufactured and investing millions of dollars in new automation and upgraded factory infrastructure. He rebranded the Company Atlas Sound (now AtlasIED) to show the industry that there was a new attitude at work with a goal to reestablish customer confidence. Loyd would say, treat the company like it was yours, make decisions like you’re the owner. Looking at this now, and how AtlasIED has advanced with multiple award-winning products and technologies, he clearly had the right people, and execution to achieve that goal. His original vision continues to drive AtlasIED today and into the future.

From a personal perspective, Loyd made it a point to know all MiTek employees personally (he referred to as Partners). He took direct interest in us, including me, my family, and personal interest in my career trajectory, embracing my talents and allowing them to be channeled where they were best used. Through the years, I have been fortunate to get to know Loyd and the Ivey family on a personal level and am proud to be a part of such an overwhelming legacy.

My relationship with Loyd started 15-20 years ago and our connection was immediate, as there was a personal tie between Mary’s family situation and Loyd’s health symptoms. We felt drawn to his energy and passion, and his professionalism. Initially, the relationship took root when Loyd sold me a live events company in Milwaukee (which we still own today.) Loyd was fair, he took the time to help me create a transition plan that ensured the forthcoming success of that acquisition. Since then, our professional relationship deepened as we became friendly with John and Beth after John stepped into a leadership role in the company. So much of our professional growth have been milestones we talked about together; and even more importantly, we shared our experiences to help each other grow. Those types of relationships are rare, and my only regret is not having met Loyd and the Ivey family sooner in my career. He will be missed.

Loyd was a real character. I’d find myself talking with him for hours about old cars, horses, military strategy, business opportunities and all sorts of things. I can’t recall a single conversation with Loyd that we stayed on topic. I remember it like it was yesterday that during my first week at NSCA I had a four-hour encounter (on a train no less) with Loyd regarding the state of our industry. That helped me to understand what was instore for me going forward.

Loyd was a tough guy to get to know but once you did, he was far kinder and more caring than what people realize. His generosity helped pave the way for just about every new program we launched at NSCA. Loyd had a real knack for proving me wrong. I think we challenged each other in that way. I’d tell him not to do something and of course he did and in most every situation he was right. That motivated him in ways that I’m not sure just financial reward would have.