William D. Byron

William Devereux Byron, II (May 15, 1895 – February 27, 1941) a Democrat, was a U.S. Congressman who represented the 6^th congressional district of Maryland from January 3, 1939 to February 27, 1941. After his death in an airplane crash in Georgia on February 27, 1941 his widow, Katharine Byron, a granddaughter of U.S. Senator Louis E. McComas, was elected in a special election to complete his term of office.

Born in Danville, Virginia, he moved with his parents to Williamsport, Maryland in 1900 where he attended the public schools, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire and Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York. Following his service in the aviation corps during World War I, where he was commissioned a first lieutenant he entered the family leather manufacturing business in 1919. He served in the Maryland Senate from 1930 to 1934 and as mayor of Williamsport from 1926 to -1930 as had his grandfather for whom he was named.

In 1940 Byron was challenged by baseball legend, Hall of Famer, and Montgomery County Commissioner Walter Johnson. Byron would narrowly prevail, by a total of 60,037 (53%) to 52,258 (47%), thanks in large part to the power of incumbency and FDR's coat tails. [http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1940election.pdf]

On February 26, 1941, Congressman Byron boarded Eastern Airlines Flight 21 at Washington. The plane was en route from New York to Brownsville, Texas, with stops at Washington and Atlanta. On its approach to Atlanta's Chandler Field, the Douglas DC-3 crashed, killing 9 of the 16 persons onboard, including Byron. Eddie Rickenbacker, flying ace and President of Eastern, survived with serious injuries. [ www.planecrashinfo.com/database.htm retrieved August 5, 2007 ] Byron was interred in Riverview Cemetery in Williamsport, Maryland.

His son Goodloe Byron was also a representative from the Maryland 6^th congressional district.

References

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9598631 William D. Byron's biographic sketch] at Find A Grave