[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 6059-6060] [From the U.S. 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 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 [[Page 6060]] 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.