Garland T. Byrd
Encyclopedia
Garland Turk Byrd was United States Democratic
politician from Georgia
, who served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
from 1959 to 1963.
He was born in Reynolds, Georgia
(Taylor County
). Byrd graduated Reynolds High School in 1941. During World War II he served in the United States Army
from October 1942 to October 1945 in engineer combat units. He fought in Normandy
, Northern France, Germany and Austria
. He was discharged in rank of captain.
Byrd attended University of Georgia
from 1946 to 1948, where he was a member of Sigma Chi
, and earned LL.B. degree from Emory University School of Law
in 1948 in law.
A lifelong farmer and real estate businessman, he served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from 1947 to 1949 from his home Taylor County. He resigned in order to became Director, assistant director of the state's Veterans Service Department (1949–1952).
Elected Lieutenant Governor in 1958 he served this post from January 13, 1959 to January 15, 1963 under fellow Democrat, Governor Ernest Vandiver
.
After he left this post, he was Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative from Georgia's 3rd congressional district
in 1964, losing to Republican
nominee (and 1966 gubernatorial nominee) Bo Callaway. In 1966 he was a candidate for succeeding Governor Carl E. Sanders in 1966, but lost soundly Democratic primary and finished distant fifth.
He was married to Gloria Elizabeth Whatley (born September 22, 1925).
Lt. Governor Byrd was a freemason.
Byrd is interred at Hillcrest Cemetery in Reynolds, Georgia
.
Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964 (Democratic primary runoff)
Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964
Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1966
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, who served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
from 1959 to 1963.
He was born in Reynolds, Georgia
Reynolds, Georgia
Reynolds is a town in Taylor County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.75% is water. The town was said to have been settled first by Dr. Alfred...
(Taylor County
Taylor County, Georgia
Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 8,815. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 8,738...
). Byrd graduated Reynolds High School in 1941. During World War II he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from October 1942 to October 1945 in engineer combat units. He fought in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, Northern France, Germany and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. He was discharged in rank of captain.
Byrd attended University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
from 1946 to 1948, where he was a member of Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
, and earned LL.B. degree from Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law is a first-tier US law school that is part of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. It is ranked #30 among ABA-approved law schools by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report...
in 1948 in law.
A lifelong farmer and real estate businessman, he served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
from 1947 to 1949 from his home Taylor County. He resigned in order to became Director, assistant director of the state's Veterans Service Department (1949–1952).
Elected Lieutenant Governor in 1958 he served this post from January 13, 1959 to January 15, 1963 under fellow Democrat, Governor Ernest Vandiver
Ernest Vandiver
Samuel Ernest Vandiver Jr. was an American politician who was the 73rd Governor of the US state of Georgia from 1959 to 1963.-Early life and career:...
.
After he left this post, he was Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative from Georgia's 3rd congressional district
Georgia's 3rd congressional district
Georgia's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. The district is based in west central Georgia and stretches from Columbus in the south to the southern edge of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area in the north, including Fayette, Coweta, Henry, and Spalding...
in 1964, losing to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee (and 1966 gubernatorial nominee) Bo Callaway. In 1966 he was a candidate for succeeding Governor Carl E. Sanders in 1966, but lost soundly Democratic primary and finished distant fifth.
He was married to Gloria Elizabeth Whatley (born September 22, 1925).
Lt. Governor Byrd was a freemason.
Byrd is interred at Hillcrest Cemetery in Reynolds, Georgia
Reynolds, Georgia
Reynolds is a town in Taylor County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.75% is water. The town was said to have been settled first by Dr. Alfred...
.
Electoral history
Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964 (Democratic primary)- Garland T. Byrd – 20,067 (34.38%)
- Stephen Pace, Jr. – 13,492 (23.11%)
- Erle Cocke, Jr.Erle Cocke, Jr.Erle Cocke, Jr. was a Brigadier General in the National Guard of the United States.-Biography:A native of Dawson, Georgia, Cocke was born on May 10, 1921. Cocke attended the University of Georgia and Harvard University. He would marry Madelyn Grotnes and have three children...
– 9,760 (16.72%) - Ed Wohlwender – 8,526 (14.61%)
- Charles R. AdamsCharles R. AdamsCharles R. Adams was an American opera singer and singing instructor. An excellent tenor and fine actor, he had a commanding stage presence and was particularly admired for his interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner....
– 4,242 (7.27%) - Robert Lee Newby – 2,287 (3.92%)
Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964 (Democratic primary runoff)
- Garland T. Byrd – 22,584 (51.05%)
- Stephen Pace, Jr. – 21,653 (48.95%)
Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964
- Bo Callaway (R) – 45,145 (57.23%)
- Garland T. Byrd (D) – 33,733 (42.77%)
Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1966
Georgia gubernatorial election, 1966
The Georgia gubernatorial election of 1966 was held on November 8. After an election that exposed divisions within the Georgia Democratic Party , segregationist Democrat Lester Maddox was elected Governor of Georgia by the Georgia General Assembly...
- Former Governor Ellis ArnallEllis ArnallEllis Gibbs Arnall was an American politician, a progressive Democrat who served as the 69th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1943 to 1947.-Education:...
– 231,480 (29.38%) - Lester MaddoxLester MaddoxLester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
– 185,672 (23.56%) - State SenatorGeorgia SenateThe Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
– 185,672 (23.56%) - James H. GrayJames H. GrayJames Henry Gray, was a Canadian journalist, historian and author.Born in Whitemouth, Manitoba, he moved to Winnipeg with his parents in 1911. In 1922, he dropped out of public school and went to work at the Winnipeg Grain Exchange as a messenger...
– 164,562 (20.89%) - Lieutenant Governor Garland T. Byrd – 39,994 (5.08%)
- Hoke O'Kelley – 13,271 (1.68%)