- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Title:
- Oral history interview with Garland Byrd, 1997 April 11
- Creator:
- Byrd, Garland T. (Garland Turk), 1924-1997
- Contributor to Resource:
- Steely, Mel
University of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program - Publisher:
- Carrollton, Ga. : University of West Georgia Special Collections in association with the Digital Library of Georgia
- Date of Original:
- 1997-04-11
- Subject:
- Georgia--Politics and government--1865-1950
Georgia--Politics and government--1951-
Lieutenant governors--Georgia--Interviews
Legislators--Georgia--Interviews
University of Georgia--Alumni and alumnae
Emory University. School of Law--Alumni and alumnae
Segregation--Georgia--Atlanta
School integration--Georgia--Atlanta
Education--Georgia
United States. Montgomery G.I. Bill
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe
Byrd, Garland T. (Garland Turk), 1924-1997--Interviews - People:
- Byrd, Garland T. (Garland Turk), 1924-1997
Arnall, Ellis Gibbs, 1907-1992
Callaway, Howard H. (Howard Hollis), 1927-2014
Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
Griffin, Marvin, 1907-1982
Groover, Denmark, 1922-2001
Landrum, Philip M.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Smith, George T. (George Thornewell), 1916-
Talmadge, Eugene, 1884-1946
Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972
Vandiver, S. Ernest (Samuel Ernest), 1918-2005 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
moving images - Type:
- MovingImage
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- Garland Turk Byrd (1924-1997) was born in Reynolds, Georgia, attended local schools and served in an army engineer combat unit during World War II from 1942-1945. He earned his law degree from Emory University in 1948, having previously attended the University of Georgia. He was elected as a Democrat to serve in the state legislature from 1947-1949, but left to be assistant director of the State Veterans Department from 1949 until 1952. He served as Lieutenant Governor under Governor Ernest Vandiver from 1959-1963 during the peaceful integration of Atlanta's public schools. Byrd was a successful farmer and real estate businessman, and ran for office several more times, but never won. He died of leukemia in 1997.; Interviewed by Dr. Mel Steely on April 11, 1997 at the home of Garland Byrd.; Byrd begins the interview with a discussion of his childhood and growing up in Taylor County. He discusses attending Georgia Southwestern College for a year after graduating high school in 1941, and his time at William & Mary before joining the Army in World War II. He talks about basic training, and says that it was a very difficult period of time for him, calling the early mornings and "waiting for someone to bail you out" stressful. After answering questions about his time fighting in the War, Byrd starts discussing his political career after he returned home, got a law degree, and got married. After talking about how the War affected his political strategies, Byrd talks about his perspective on the Three-Governor Crisis in the 1940s. When it comes to his own political career, Dr. Steely asks Byrd questions about his campaign styles and strategies. Later in the interview, Byrd talks about becoming Lieutenant Governor under Ernest Vandiver and their relationship with each other. He talks about the great working relationship between himself and the senators and the governor during his first session. Byrd also answers questions regarding he and Vandiver's approach to the desegregation of schools in Georgia. After discussing his trials during his campaigns, which included a heart attack, Byrd concludes the interview by stating that he wouldn't do anything differently, and makes a few closing comments about his views on the education system in Georgia.
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:uwg_phc_byrd19970411
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/uwg/phc/do:byrd19970411
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [interview title], Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program oral history interviews. Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections, Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library, University of West Georgia
- Extent:
- 2 interviews (circa 135 mins.; circa 90 mins.)
- Original Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program oral history interviews. Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections, Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library, State University of West Georgia
- Contributing Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
- Rights:
-
Oral history interview with Garland Byrd, 1997 April 11
