United States Senate portrait of Robert C. Byrd , circa 2003.
United States Senator Robert Byrd (November 20, 1917 – June 28, 2010) represented the U.S. state of West Virginia as a Democrat in the United States Senate . During his tenure as chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations , Byrd secured billions of dollars of Federal funds for projects throughout West Virginia, many of which bear his name.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] Byrd served four terms as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee: January 3, 1989 through January 3, 1995; January 3, 2001 through January 20, 2001; June 6, 2001 through January 3, 2003; and January 3, 2007, through January 3, 2009. As a New Deal Democrat , Byrd used his position as chairman to battle persistent poverty in his home state of West Virginia, which he referred to as “one of the rock bottomest of states.”[ 4] "I lost no opportunity to promote funding for programs and projects of benefit to the people back home," said Byrd.“[ 4] Within two years of his chairmanship, Byrd surpassed his announced five-year goal of making sure more than $1 billion in Federal funds was sent back to West Virginia.[ 5] In referring to his economic contributions to West Virginia, Byrd said in 2000, "West Virginia has always had four friends: God Almighty, Sears Roebuck , Carter's Liver Pills and Robert C. Byrd."[ 3]
Byrd's steering of billions of Federal dollars to West Virginia earned him the sobriquets "King of Pork " by the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Citizens Against Government Waste [ 6] and "Prince of Pork" from other taxpayer groups.[ 3] According to Citizens Against Government Waste, Byrd was the first legislator to bring $1 billion of "pork" spending to his home state.[ 3] The group named Byrd its initial "Porker of the Year" in 2002.[ 3]
In addition to providing Federal funding to special projects , Byrd also ensured that many Federal complexes were built in West Virginia, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation 's Criminal Justice Information Services Division complex in Clarksburg , the United States Coast Guard 's National Maritime Center in Kearneysville , and a training center and firing range for U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers near Harpers Ferry .[ 1] Clarksburg's FBI facility was the first of the major Federal complexes to be built under Byrd's leadership as chairman of the appropriations committee.[ 3] In West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle , Byrd helped bring ten federal facilities that employed more than 3,200 people.[ 7] None of these facilities are named for him, however.[ 1]
The Clifford Hollow Bridge carries the Robert C. Byrd Highway over Clifford Hollow near Moorefield , West Virginia.
More than 50 buildings built with funds from US taxpayers directed to West Virginia are named for either Byrd or his wife, Erma Ora Byrd (née James).[ 2] Several transportation projects named for Byrd have gained national notoriety, including the Robert C. Byrd Highway .[ 8] Also known as "Corridor H" of the Appalachian Development Highway System , the highway was dubbed "West Virginia's road to nowhere" in 2009 after it received a $9.5 million earmark in the $410 billion Omnibus Appropriations Act .[ 8] The highway received another $21 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 .[ 8] Critics argued the traffic on the highway was too light and the cost too high for the project to continue construction until its proposed completion in 2035.[ 8] The State of West Virginia argued the highway was necessary as "an ideal evacuation route for Washington , about 100 miles away, in case of an emergency."[ 8]
Academia, science, and technology[ edit ]
The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank , West Virginia.
Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center, Marshall University in Huntington , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center, Marshall University Graduate College in South Charleston , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Auditorium, National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center , Marshall University in Huntington , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10] [ 12] [ 13]
Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Laboratory, West Virginia University in Morgantown , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies, Shepherd University in Shepherdstown , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 14]
Robert C. Byrd Center for Pharmacy Education, University of Charleston in Charleston , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health, Marshall University in Huntington , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9]
Robert C. Byrd Clinical Teaching Center, Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Hospital in Charleston , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope , Green Bank , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, Princeton , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University in Morgantown , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Charleston Division, Charleston , West Virginia[ 9]
Robert C. Byrd High School , Clarksburg , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 15]
Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) Bridgeport Manufacturing Technology Center, Bridgeport , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 16]
RCBI Charleston Manufacturing Technology Center, South Charleston , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10] [ 16]
RCBI Huntington Manufacturing Technology Center, Huntington , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 16]
RCBI Rocket Center Manufacturing Technology Center, Rocket Center , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 16] [ 17]
Robert C. Byrd Institute for Composites Technology and Training Center, Bridgeport , West Virginia[ 9]
Robert C. Byrd Library, Wheeling , West Virginia[ 9]
Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center, University of Charleston in Beckley [ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Life Long Learning Center, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Moorefield , West Virginia[ 9]
Robert C. Byrd Life Long Learning Center, West Virginia University in Morgantown , West Virginia[ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Metals Fabrication Center, Rocket Center , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 17]
Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, Bridgeport , West Virginia (affiliated with Fairmont State University )[ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 18]
Robert C. Byrd Regional Training Institute, Camp Dawson near Kingwood , West Virginia[ 9]
Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center, Shepherd University in Shepherdstown , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Technology Center, Alderson–Broaddus College in Philippi , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center[ 6] [ 10]
Recreation and tourism [ edit ]
The Robert C. Byrd Bridge crossing the Ohio River between Huntington , West Virginia and Chesapeake , Ohio .
Robert C. Byrd Appalachian Highway System, Appalachian Development Highway System in West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 19]
Robert C. Byrd Bridge , crosses the Ohio River between Huntington , West Virginia and Chesapeake , Ohio [ 6] [ 9] [ 10] [ 19]
Robert C. Byrd Bridge, Ohio County , West Virginia[ 19]
Robert C. Byrd Drive, West Virginia Routes 16 and 97 between Beckley and Sophia , West Virginia[ 6] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Expressway , United States Route 22 near Weirton , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Freeway , United States Route 119 between Williamson and Charleston , West Virginia (also known as Corridor G )[ 6] [ 9]
Robert C. Byrd Highway , United States Route 48 between Weston , West Virginia and the Virginia state line near Wardensville , West Virginia (also known as Corridor H )[ 6] [ 19]
Robert C. Byrd Interchange on Interstate 77 [ 9]
Robert C. Byrd Interchange on United States Route 19 , Birch River , West Virginia[ 9] [ 19]
Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center, Wheeling , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10]
Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam, Ohio River in Gallipolis Ferry , West Virginia[ 6] [ 9] [ 10]
The Erma Byrd Higher Education Center at Concord University 's Beckley Campus in Beaver , West Virginia.
The following places are named after Robert Byrd's wife, Erma Ora Byrd:
Erma Byrd Biomedical Research Center, West Virginia University in Morgantown , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 20]
Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies, Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling , West Virginia[ 10] [ 20]
Erma Ora Byrd Clinical Center, Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington , West Virginia[ 9]
Erma Ora Byrd Conference and Learning Center, Rocket Center , West Virginia[ 17] [ 21]
Erma Byrd Eastern Panhandle Health Professions Center, Martinsburg , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10]
Erma Byrd Gallery, University of Charleston in Charleston , West Virginia[ 9]
Erma Byrd Garden, Graceland Mansion in Elkins , West Virginia[ 20]
Erma Ora Byrd Hall, Department of Nursing Education, Shepherd University in Shepherdstown , West Virginia[ 9]
Erma Byrd Higher Education Center, Concord University Beckley Campus in Beaver , West Virginia[ 9] [ 10] [ 22]
^ a b c Smith, Vicki (June 28, 2010). "Pork or progress? Either way, Byrd changed WVa". The Washington Post .
^ a b Gerhart, Ann; Anne E. Kornblut (July 3, 2010). "At memorial service, West Virginia says farewell to 'Big Daddy' Robert C. Byrd" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2010 .
^ a b c d e f Moore, Greg (June 28, 2010). "U.S. SEN. ROBERT C. BYRD DIES AT 92" . The Charleston Gazette . Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2010 .
^ a b Clymer, Adam (June 28, 2010). "Robert C. Byrd, a Pillar of the Senate, Dies at 92" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 30, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2010 .
^ "Robert Byrd DEAD: West Virginia Democrat Was Longest Serving Senator In History" . HuffPost . Associated Press. June 28, 2010. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2010 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Citizens Against Government Waste (July 1, 2010). "Projects Named For Senator Byrd" . Byrd Droppings . Citizens Against Government Waste . Archived from the original on November 26, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ Umstead, Matthew (June 28, 2010). "Byrd's legacy lives on in West Virginia" . The Herald-Mail . Retrieved July 3, 2010 .
^ a b c d e Griffin, Drew; Turnham, Steve (March 12, 2009). "West Virginia's road to nowhere gets stimulus boost" . CNN Special Investigations Unit . CNN . Archived from the original on September 9, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2010 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba Staff reports (June 28, 2010). "Byrd's name is everywhere you look in W.Va" . The Charleston Gazette . Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar WTRF-TV (June 28, 2010). "Buildings, By-Ways and Bridge Carry Byrd's Name" . WTRF-TV website . WTRF-TV; West Virginia Media Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ National Conservation Training Center (June 28, 2010). "Byrd Legacy Remembered at NCTC" . NCTC e-Journal . National Conservation Training Center. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ "Biotechnology Center – Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center Opens on 08/25/06" . Marshall University College of Science. 2006. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ "Marshall University Nutrition and Cancer Center" . Marshall University Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies (2010). "Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies" . Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies website . Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ Robert C. Byrd High School (July 1, 2010). "Robert C. Byrd High School website" . Robert C. Byrd High School. Archived from the original on April 14, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ a b c d Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) (July 1, 2010). "Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) website" . Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI). Archived from the original on August 7, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ a b c d Chaddock, Gail Russell (August 15, 2006). "Welcome to Byrd country" . The Christian Science Monitor . Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ "Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University" . National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University . 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ a b c d e Page, Dan (June 26, 2010). "Byrd's name leads way on W.Va. bridges, highways: More than 450 roads, spans honor citizens" . Cumberland Times-News website . Cumberland Times-News . Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ a b c Nugent, Jennifer (2010). "A Lifetime of Leadership: Senator Robert C. Byrd" . West Virginia Executive website . West Virginia Executive; Executive Ink. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ Pisciotta, Marla (October 24, 2008). "Byrd Dedicates New Buildings at ABL" . State Journal website . State Journal ; West Virginia Media Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ Concord University (2010). "Beckley Campus: Erma Byrd Center" . Concord University Beckley Campus: Erma Byrd Center website . Concord University . Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .