Longest Serving Senator Robert C Byrd passes away at 92

[WVRed]

Hopefully this thread can stay open.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100628/ap_on_go_co/us_obit_byrd

Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and those who knew him well. Even if you did not agree with him politically, his presence was definitely felt in the Mountain State.

[reds1869]

As a native West Virginian this makes me very sad.

[OldRightHander]

I'll keep my opinion of him to myself and just say that my condolences go out to his family. He was an icon.

[Slyder]

The last great Statesman is gone. An end of an era, not just West Virginia but an era of US Politics. No one in DC spent more time fighting for the Constitution and for West Virginia in DC than Senator Byrd. Every man has flaws, but Byrd saw his flaws and changed them as the years passed.

Republican or Democrat alike if you over stepped the bounds of the Constitution Byrd would be first in line. A true historian and Constitutional scholar. His presence will be missed for many years.

[WVRed]

I'm sure this list will get longer too:


Things named after Byrd:

Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center
Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling
Byrd Aerospace Technology Center
Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio
Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center
Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran's hospital in Huntington
Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove
Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar Grove
Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown)
Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 22 near Weirton
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building
Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse
Robert C. Byrd Freeway
Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope
Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia
Robert C. Byrd High school in Bridgeport
Robert C. Byrd Highway
Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex, Mineral County
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships
Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County
Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston
Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing
Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center
Robert C. Byrd Life Long Learning Center
Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam
Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center
Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center
Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award
Byrd Science Center, Shepherd University
Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College
Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center
Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

[Betterread]

He served his state with indiscriminate zeal. He brought in far more federal discretionary money than anyone thought possible for WV. His slow, time-consuming education on civil rights and the constitution reflect the unfortunate ignorance and entitlement attitudes of many members of his chamber. It comes down to the term limits question: whether you think being a senator should be a prestigious career job or a temporary national leadership position.

[RedsBaron]

I'm sure this list will get longer too:

I'm sure there will be a "Robert C. Byrd Humility Institute" eventually. ;)

[savafan]

Every man has flaws, but Byrd saw his flaws and changed them as the years passed.



I think that's the important thing to remember. RIP.

[Sea Ray]

For the most part I disagreed with him politically but I think he was a good guy and I'm sad to see him pass on

[westofyou]

How many more folks will govern as long as Byrd did?

Are the days of these sort of tenures over?

I'd say so.

There goes another dinosaur

[Dom Heffner]

I'll keep my opinion of him to myself and just say that my condolences go out to his family. He was an icon.

Why do people always preface sympathy like this?

If you say "I'll keep my opinion to myself," you didn't keep it to yourself.

It's like you want to get a jab in without having to answer for it.

[westofyou]

Why do people always preface sympathy like this?

If you say "I'll keep my opinion to myself," you didn't keep it to yourself.

It's like you want to get a jab in without having to answer for it.

It's like saying I won't dance on his grave while I skip around it.

I get the subtext, I'm no dolt.

[WVRed]

Saw this on another message board:

YouTube - Senator Robert Byrd: Will The Circle Be Unbroken (1978 Recording) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzkEKLn-d8M&feature=player_embedded)

[Razor Shines]

nm probably off topic.

[savafan]

I have an 8X10 photograph of a painting Sen. Byrd that he personally autographed for me. It now goes into my rank of treasured memorabilia.

[Degenerate39]

He did a lot for West Virginia. I'm glad that his tenure as a Senator was in the state that I live in

[cumberlandreds]

How many more folks will govern as long as Byrd did?

Are the days of these sort of tenures over?

I'd say so.

There goes another dinosaur

You are probably correct. It's just too easy now to dig up dirt on people whether it's justifiable or not.
My wife is from WVA and her parents thought he was next to God. He did do a lot for WVA and was able to get things for them no one else ever could have.