Senator Byrd - Biography
Senator Byrd - Biography: "Robert C. Byrd's story is a classic American saga of hard work, success, and achievement.
Born in 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Robert Byrd was left a virtual orphan by the death of his mother when he was only one year old. Brought to West Virginia by his aunt and uncle to be reared as their own, the future Senator grew up in various communities in the bituminous coalfields, mastering life's early lessons and graduating as valedictorian of his high school class in the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930's.
Unable at the time to afford college tuition, Byrd sought employment wherever he found an opportunity -- pumping gas at a filling station, working as a produce salesman, and then becoming a meat cutter -- picking up new skills as he advanced.
One of those skills -- welding -- was in demand after World War II started, and he worked during the war years building 'Liberty' and 'Victory' ships in the construction yards of Baltimore, Maryland, and Tampa, Florida.
At war's end, he returned to West Virginia with a new vision of what his home state and his country could be. In 1946, he made his first run for political office, and was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. "
Robert C Byrd: Child of the Appalachian Coalfields
Born in 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Robert Byrd was left a virtual orphan by the death of his mother when he was only one year old. Brought to West Virginia by his aunt and uncle to be reared as their own, the future Senator grew up in various communities in the bituminous coalfields, mastering life's early lessons and graduating as valedictorian of his high school class in the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930's.
Unable at the time to afford college tuition, Byrd sought employment wherever he found an opportunity -- pumping gas at a filling station, working as a produce salesman, and then becoming a meat cutter -- picking up new skills as he advanced.
One of those skills -- welding -- was in demand after World War II started, and he worked during the war years building 'Liberty' and 'Victory' ships in the construction yards of Baltimore, Maryland, and Tampa, Florida.
At war's end, he returned to West Virginia with a new vision of what his home state and his country could be. In 1946, he made his first run for political office, and was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. "
Robert C Byrd: Child of the Appalachian Coalfields
posted by Helen Campbell @ 11:45 PM
1 Comments:
At 11:50 PM EDT ,
Helen Campbell said...
I had no idea that Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Wilkes County comes up in a lot of my personal ongoing Melungeon research.
My Revolutionary War ancestors moved from Wilkes County, NC to West Virginia in the late 1700s.
I'll have to do more research on Senator Byrd's genealogy.
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