Byrd, Clifton Ellis (Prof.); Bath County, Va.; now Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000




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 Byrd, Prof. Clifton Ellis, well known educator, Shreveport, La., was born in
Bath county, Va., Dec. 14, 1859, son of John T. and Sarah Rebecca (McClintic)
Byrd, both of  were natives of Virginia.  The Byrd family is of English
descent and that of McClintic, Scotch.  Col. William Byrd, of Westover, Pa.,
was the founder of the family in the state of Virginia.  John T. Byrd was a
farmer and passed his life in his native state.  Clifton Ellis, son, passed
his youth on the farm, where he attended the public schools of Bath county. 
When he had finished at these the young man entered Augusta military academy,
where he was prepared for college.  Following this he attended the University
of Virginia, and after graduating from this institution began his career as a
teacher, which has proven in every way most gratifyingly successful.  His
first commission was that of schools at Front Royal, Va., where he remained 6
years, following which he became principal of the Ouachita parish high school,
occupying this station 3 years.  He was then called to Shreveport, La., as the
first principal of the new high school of that city, this being in the year
1892.  Prof. Byrd has been continually connected with schools of Shreveport
since that time, with the exception of 1 year, during which he served as
president of the State Industrial school at Ruston, La.  He has served as
principal of the Shreveport high school 6 years, as city superintendent of
schools 10 years, and as parish superintendent since 1908, covering a period
of more than 21 years' connection with public education in Caddo parish, La. 
Prof. Byrd is a member of the Southern and National Educational associations,
and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  He affiliates with the
Presbyterian church.  In 1895 Prof. Clifton Ellis Byrd was married to Miss
Mattie McFee, of Monroe, La.  Two children have been born to their union,
namely, Mary and Clifton.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 80-81. 
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical
Association.