[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 22261-22262] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN MEMORY OF DR. JAMES EDWARD BYRD ______ HON. PETE SESSIONS of texas in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember my friend, Dr. James Edward Byrd. He was kind and generous and a man of great character that [[Page 22262]] deeply loved God and country. Dr. Byrd passed away on November 23, 2010 after suffering complications from heart surgery. Born and raised in Arkansas, Dr. Byrd was a proud graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, where he was a ROTC student during his tenure and the recipient of the Distinguished Military Student Award. Upon graduation, he received his commission in the Army as a Second Lieutenant and proceeded to serve as the Executive Officer, 2MTB 67 Armor and then as the Accountable Officer, 9th Quartermaster Battalion in Germany. Dr. Byrd also earned a Masters in Psychology and a Ph.D. from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Most recently, he served as the Vice President for the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation where he traveled around the State of Texas raising money for missions, ministering to local churches, and emphasizing the importance of sharing the gospel. His love for people and winning them to Christ was evident in his actions; I know Dr. Byrd touched countless lives. I had the distinct privilege and pleasure of having Dr. Byrd serve on my U.S. Academy Selection Board for thirteen years. He proudly served our country as a member of the Arkansas National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves, with his military career spanning over twenty-three years. His record of exemplary military service and background in education made him well-suited to serve on my Board. He was deeply committed to selecting the best candidates for our military academies; these students who would go onto serve as the next leaders of our military in the generations to come. There are no words that are capable of fully expressing my heartfelt gratitude for his dedicated service to our great Nation. Dr. Byrd is survived by his loving wife of fifty-one years, Wencie; his sons, Scott, Lance, and Bart; his brother Bill; sisters Alice and Lela Mae; and grandchildren Daniel, Lauren, Blakely, Ryland, and Margaret. I am honored to have known him and called him my friend. He will be greatly missed. May the peace of God be with those he loved and sustain them through this hour of sorrow. ____________________