Garland T. Byrd
| Garland T. Byrd | |
|---|---|
| 4th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia | |
|
In office January 13, 1959 – January 15, 1963 |
|
| Governor | Ernest Vandiver |
| Preceded by | Ernest Vandiver |
| Succeeded by | Peter Zack Geer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Garland Turk Byrd July 16, 1924 Reynolds, Georgia |
| Died | June 1, 1997 (aged 72) Reynolds, Georgia |
| Resting place | Hillcrest Cemetery in Reynolds, Georgia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Gloria Elizabeth Whatley |
| Alma mater | Emory University School of Law |
| Profession | Farmer, real estate businessman |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | European Theatre of Operations of World War II |
Garland Turk Byrd (July 16, 1924 – June 1, 1997) was United States Democratic politician from Georgia, who served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Georgia from 1959 to 1963.
He was born in Reynolds in Taylor County in west central Georgia. Byrd graduated in 1941 from Reynolds High School. During World War II he served in the United States Army from October 1942 to October 1945 in engineer combat units. He fought in Normandy, Northern France, Germany and Austria. He was discharged at the rank of captain.
Byrd attended University of Georgia at Athens from 1946 to 1948, where he was a member of Sigma Chi, and earned LL.B. degree from Emory University School of Law in 1948.
A lifelong farmer and real estate businessman, he served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1947 to 1949 from Taylor County. He resigned from the legislature to become director and then assistant director of the state's Veterans Service Department from 1949 to 1952.
Elected Lieutenant Governor in 1958 he served this post from January 13, 1959 to January 15, 1963 under fellow Democrat, Governor Ernest S. Vandiver, Jr.
After he left the lieutenant governor's position, Byrd was Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative from Georgia's 3rd congressional district in 1964. However, he lost to Republican nominee (and 1966 gubernatorial standard-bearer nominee) Howard Callaway. Byrd hence was the first Georgia Democrat to lose to a Republican congressional candidate since the Reconstruction era.
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