Garland T. Byrd

Infobox_Lt_Governor
name= Garland Turk Byrd


caption=
order= 4^th
office= Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
term_start= January 13, 1959
term_end= January 15, 1961
governor= Ernest Vandiver
predecessor= Ernest Vandiver
successor= Peter Zack Geer
birth_date= July 16, 1924
birth_place= Reynolds, Georgia
death_date= June 1, 1997
death_place= Reynolds, Georgia
party= Democrat
profession= Farmer, real estate businessman
spouse= Gloria Elizabeth Whatley
footnotes=

Garland Turk Byrd (July 16, 1924 - June 1, 1997) was United States Democratic politician from Georgia, who served as the 4th 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 US Army from October 1942 to October 1945 in eingeener 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 and earned LL.B. degree from Emory University 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 interment at "Hillcrest Cemetery" in Reynolds, Georgia.

Electoral history

Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964 (Democratic primary) [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=382388 Our Campaigns - GA District 3 - D Primary Race - Sep 09, 1964 ] ]
* Garland T. Byrd - 20,067 (34.38%)
* Stephen Pace, Jr. - 13,492 (23.11%)
* Erle Cocke - 9,760 (16.72%)
* Ed Wohlwender - 8,526 (14.61%)
* Charles R. Adams - 4,242 (7.27%)
* Robert Lee Newby - 2,287 (3.92%)

Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964 (Democratic primary runoff) [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=382387 Our Campaigns - GA District 3 - D Runoff Race - Sep 23, 1964 ] ]
* Garland T. Byrd - 22,584 (51.05%)
* Stephen Pace, Jr. - 21,653 (48.95%)

Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1964 [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122073 Our Campaigns - GA District 3 Race - Nov 03, 1964 ] ]
* Bo Callaway (R) - 45,145 (57.23%)
* Garland T. Byrd (D) - 33,733 (42.77%)

Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1966 [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=382413 Our Campaigns - GA Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 14, 1966 ] ]
* Former Governor Ellis Arnall - 231,480 (29.38%)
* Lester Maddox - 185,672 (23.56%)
* State Senator Jimmy Carter - 185,672 (23.56%)
* James H. Gray - 164,562 (20.89%)
* Lieutenant Governor Garland T. Byrd - 39,994 (5.08%)
* Hoke O'Kelley - 13,271 (1.68%)

References

External links

* [http://www.state.ga.us/archive/ltgov/prevgov/gtbyrd.html Official detailed biography]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/button-byrer.html Political graveyard brief bio]
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=58731 Ourcampaigns]