The son of Frank Floyd, the American who was among the 22 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Alkhobar on Saturday [May 29, 2004], told Arab News yesterday [June 2, 2004] that his father had a tremendous affection for Saudi Arabia and its people.

Frank Floyd Jr. said his father "first went to Saudi Arabia in 1976 and worked in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar. His work and life in Saudi Arabia spanned three decades."

Floyd said his mother lived with their father in Saudi Arabia, and that their choice to live there was far more than a job supporting the oil industry.

"It was a rewarding career in the country he loved," said Floyd Jr., who said his father was devoted to his wife and four children.

The senior Floyd's "mission," his son said, "went beyond the oil industry and included construction and facilities operations at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh in the late 1970s. In the mid-to-late 1980s he worked in Jeddah with the Kingdom's Meteorological and Environmental Protection Agency."

Floyd Jr. stressed that it was "important to get the message out that he loved the country and the people," and said that after three decades in the Kingdom, "my dad knew people from everywhere, and it had become home for him."

Floyd Jr. said he grew up in Saudi Arabia. "My brother was born there, my sisters lived there too. We all spent a big part of our lives there."

"When my dad first went over there and worked at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, I had just turned five years old, and it was a constant adventure, there are so many stories we could tell .. Now we are reminiscing about all the close friends that my father made there and the incredible Saudi hospitality that his Saudi friends showed us."

Floyd Jr. said the family had spoken about the idea of their mother and father returning to the United States. "The family had talked about it, but there were no definite plans. Dad and mom felt they were at home there, they had spent so much time there.

"It was just one of those things that over time you develop an appreciation and love for. He knew so many people, it really was like home for him."

Floyd Jr. said his mother worked as a sales representative at the Oasis Compound, which is where the terrorists struck on Saturday.

"She knew a lot of the people who lived there, she had helped them in leasing their villas at Oasis. Several of her friends were also killed -- so it has really had a huge impact us."

His mother has heard from many of their Saudi friends, he said. "So many people have extended their condolences, it has been very touching.

"Yesterday she was visited by members of the Alireza family. There has been an amazing outpouring of sympathy and she’s drawing a lot of strength from this support."

Floyd Jr. said his "uncle works in Jeddah and was able to fly to Alkhobar to be with my mom, for which we are so thankful."

He said his mother is making arrangements with the assistance of the State Department and FBI, "to return my father as soon as possible."

Ironically, Floyd Sr. was the "warden" for his company, which his son said meant that in the event of an emergency, he would have been contacted by the Consulate or State Department to initiate and coordinate plans during an emergency.