in memoriam:
senator
harry f. byrd, jr.
a dear friend & community leader
by emily burner
Ninety-eight years. A lifetime of service to his state
and his nation. With his passing on July 30, Senator
Harry F. Byrd, Jr., a Shenandoah trustee emeritus,
left a lasting mark on Shenandoah University, the
Commonwealth and the United States.
The university community mourns this longtime
friend and leader whose legacy helped shape
the direction and philosophy of Shenandoah
from its arrival in Winchester in 1960. In 1984,
Shenandoah University’s Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School
of Business was named for the senator, who will
be remembered as an individual dedicated to the
enrichment of all those around him.
“He put others before himself, truly caring for
those with whom he came into contact,” said
President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D. “As a result,
he has left behind thousands of people who feel
blessed to have considered him a good friend.
“As a university, we are indebted to Senator Byrd
and the Byrd family for years of support, counsel
and friendship,” said President Fitzsimmons.
“The senator’s contributions to the university are
innumerable, and his 30 years of service on our
board of trustees, coupled with his academic and
political insight, provided a unique perspective to
our university community.”
“he put others
before himself...”
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