William D. Byron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) William D. Byron | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1939 – February 27, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | David J. Lewis |
| Succeeded by | Katharine Byron |
| Member of theMaryland Senate | |
| In office 1930–1934 | |
| Mayor of Williamsport | |
| In office 1926–1930 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Devereux Byron II (1895-05-15)May 15, 1895 Danville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 1941(1941-02-27) (aged 45) Jonesboro, Georgia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Riverview Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Katharine Byron |
| Children | 5, includingGoodloe Byron |
| Education | Phillips Exeter Academy Pratt Institute |
William Devereux Byron II (May 15, 1895 – February 27, 1941), aDemocrat, was aU.S. congressman who represented the6th congressional district ofMaryland from January 3, 1939, to February 27, 1941. After his death in an airplane crash inGeorgia on February 27, 1941, his widow,Katharine Byron, a granddaughter of U.S. SenatorLouis E. McComas, was elected in a special election to complete his term of office.
Born inDanville, Virginia, he moved with his parents toWilliamsport, Maryland in 1900 where he attended thepublic schools,Phillips Exeter Academy,Exeter, New Hampshire andPratt Institute,Brooklyn, New York. The Byron family were communicants atSaint John's Church. Following his service in the aviation corps duringWorld War I, where he was commissioned afirst lieutenant he entered the family leather manufacturing business in 1919. He served in theMaryland Senate from 1930 to 1934 and as mayor of Williamsport from 1926 to 1930 as had his grandfather, for whom he was named.
In 1940 Byron was challenged bybaseball legend,Hall of Famer, andMontgomery County CommissionerWalter Johnson. Byron would narrowly prevail, by a total of 60,037 (53%) to 52,258 (47%),[1] thanks in large part to the power of incumbency andFDR's coat tails.
On February 26, 1941, Congressman Byron boardedEastern Air Lines Flight 21 at Washington. The plane was en route fromNew York City toBrownsville, Texas, with stops atWashington, D.C., andAtlanta, Georgia. On its approach to Atlanta's Chandler Field, theDouglas DC-3 crashed, killing 9 of the 16 persons on board, including Byron.Eddie Rickenbacker, flying ace and President of Eastern, survived with serious injuries.[2] Byron was interred in Riverview Cemetery inWilliamsport, Maryland.
His sonGoodloe Byron was also a representative fromMaryland's 6th congressional district.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's 6th congressional district 1939–1941 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
