[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 41 (Friday, March 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E515-E516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE MEMORY OF DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BYRD, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM COOPER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 9, 2007

  Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the memory of Dr. 
Benjamin Franklin Byrd, Jr., a servant of the common good and fine 
citizen of our community.
  Dr. Byrd was born on May 18, 1918, as the son of Benjamin Franklin 
and Ida Brister Byrd. An Eagle Scout and ROTC participant, Dr. Byrd 
attended the Duncan College Preparatory School in Nashville and 
received his A.B. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1937. In 1941, 
he earned his M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
  During his medical residency, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and Dr. Byrd 
enlisted in the U.S. Army without hesitation. He was assigned to the 
29th Infantry Division, 104th

[[Page E516]]

Medical Battalion, a unit of the 116th Regimental Combat Team (RCT).
  Along with the other men in his unit, Dr. Byrd stormed Omaha Beach on 
D-Day. He headed up the medical evaluation of wounded soldiers and 
continued on with the unit into St. Lo a month later, as the men fought 
across France and Germany. Later, Dr. Byrd served as Commanding Officer 
of the 314th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH).
  By then a Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Byrd returned from the victorious 
war effort having earned many honors: the European Theatre ribbon from 
the Normandy/Omaha Beach invasion, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf 
clusters after St. Lo, the Purple Heart, and the Silver Star at the 
Roer River crossing in Germany.
  Carrying with him the memories and lessons from WorId War II, Dr. 
Byrd proceeded to focus his energy on the care and cure for patients 
suffering from breast cancer. He advocated mammography as the best tool 
for early diagnosis and was a main proponent of the transformation of 
Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical School into one of the 
preeminent cancer research centers in the nation.
  Over the next few years Dr. Byrd served as a Professor of Clinical 
Surgery at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Professor of Clinical 
Surgery at Meharry Medical College, Chairman of the Board of Overseers 
of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and Chief of Surgery at St. 
Thomas Hospital from 1964 to 1970. In addition, he served as President 
of the Medical Staff at the Junior League Home for Crippled Children 
and was President of the Nashville Academy of Medicine.
  Dr. Byrd served as President of the Tennessee Division of the 
American Cancer Society in 1963 and served on its national board of 
directors from 1965 onward. From 1975 to 1976, he served as President 
of the American Cancer Society (National) and the organization awarded 
him its first Ted Marrs award. Internationally, Dr. Byrd served as 
Chairman of the Cancer Study Group in the USSR in 1976, the People's 
Republic of China in 1977, and the National Conference on Breast Cancer 
in 1979.
  Dr. Byrd served as a member of the Board of Governors of the American 
College of Surgeons from 1973 to 1979, Fellow of the Southern Surgical 
Association, Fellow of the American Surgical Association, Chairman of 
the Surgery Section of the Southern Medical Association, President of 
the Vanderbilt University Medical School Alumni Association and 
President of the Southern Surgical Congress. In 1977, he received the 
Distinguished Service Award and in 1974 was named a Fellow of the 
Societe Intemationale de Chirurgie. He also received the Outstanding 
Physician of the Year Award from the Tennessee Medical Association in 
1986 and the Distinguished Physician Award from the Tennessee Hospital 
Association in 1992.

  Although much of Dr. Benjamin Byrd's life revolved around his passion 
for using medicine to alleviate human suffering, he was also a devoted 
leader in his church. He served at the First Presbyterian Church as 
Sunday School Director, as Deacon, and as Elder. He also served as 
Chairman of the Board of Cheekwood from 1971 to 1973, President of the 
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce from 1984 to 1985, Chairman of the 
Hermitage Board of Trustees from 1982 to 1990, President of the 
Exchange Club in 1966, and President of Leadership Nashville in 1983. 
He was a Trustee of Senior Citizens, the Cumberland Museum, the 
University School of Nashville, and Historic Nashville, and he served 
as a director and member of the Trust Board of Commerce Union Bank. He 
also served as a director of the NLT Corporation.
  In 1986, Dr. Byrd was named Outstanding Nashvillian for his role as 
President of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Through his 
leadership and determination, the city became an American Airlines hub 
and gained the Saturn automotive plant, among many significant 
achievements. Later, in 1988, Dr. Byrd received the Human Relations 
Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews.
  Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram 
Cancer Center and holder of the B.F. Byrd, Jr., Professor of Oncology 
chair, said, ``Dr. Byrd is really one of the pillars of the Vanderbilt-
Ingram Cancer Center. He worked extremely hard to make sure that we 
could have one of the best cancer centers in the country. I have never 
met anyone who was so dedicated to the cause and so willing to help out 
in every way possible. He will be missed greatly.''
  Madam Speaker, today I rise to echo those sentiments and pay tribute 
to a fine pillar of our community. Dr. Byrd's achievements have paved 
the way for future generations, his selfless actions have provided 
comfort to neighbors near and far, and his quiet integrity reflects 
warmly on all who were fortunate enough to know him. I add my modest 
words of praise today to the many richly deserved honors he received in 
life. Moreover, I ask the House to join me in celebrating the life of 
Dr. Benjamin Byrd, his legacy of service to the greater good, and the 
inspiration he will continue to provide for family, friends, and all 
citizens of the world.