Obituaries:  C. B. Byrd, Jr., Sabine Parish       B-630
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Dec 27, 1973
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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C. B. Byrd, Jr. (Photo)

  C. B. Byrd Jr., 54, of Many, was killed in an automobile
accident Saturday, Dec. 22, at approximately 8:27 p.m.

  Byrd was traveling west on Hwy. 6, when his car veered off on
the shoulder, and hit a bridge abutment. The accident occurred
1/2 mile west of the Many city limits. Byrd, who worked at Hodges
Gardens, was apparently going home for the evening.

  "There were no safety rails on the east end of the bridge, where
the Byrd car hit," explained State Trooper Frank Bozeman. "This
road is under construction, but there wasn't any known reason why
the accident should have occurred."

  Byrd was pronounced dead at Fraser Hospital. His body was
transferred to Shreveport Sunday, Dec. 23, for an autopsy.

  Funeral services were held on Monday, Dec. 24, at the Many
United Methodist Church, at 10 a.m. The Rev. Bill Sirman
officiated. Burial was in the Many Cemetery, under the direction
of the Warren Meadows Funeral Home.

  Byrd is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mary Agnes Byrd; four sons,
Dr. Charles L. Byrd of Miami, Fla., John M. Byrd, Francis Ray
Byrd, and Paul Wayne Byrd, all of Many; his mother, Mrs. Cora
Byrd of Shreveport; two brothers, Julian Byrd of Many, and T. J.
Byrd of Shreveport; five sisters, Mrs. Florence Reynolds, Mrs.
Viola Boone, and Mrs. May Horton, all of Shreveport, Mrs. Lelia
McGahran, and Mrs. Lula McCormic, both of Daisetta, Tex.; and
three grandchildren.

  Byrd was born in 1919, in Many, and was graduated from the local
high school. He attended Centenary College in Shreveport, and
served a short stretch as a petty officer in the U. S. Navy
during World War II.

  He began his business career in banking, and was associated with
the Sabine State Bank and Trust Co. of Many, and the Vernon Bank
in Leesville, over a period of about seven years. He was vice
president and cashier of the Vernon Bank.

  In 1945, he went to work for A. J. Hodges, one of Louisiana's
earliest and most enthusiastic supporters of "reforestation" and
"timber management." In 1946, Byrd was appointed District Manager
of A. J. Hodges Industries Inc., and became general manager when
the Hodges Land and Timber Co. Inc. was formed. When the company
became the West Louisiana Land and Timber Co. Inc., he was named
vice president and general manager, a position he retained when
the corporate name was changed to the A. J. Hodges Forest
Products Company Inc.

  When technological improvements made it feasible to utilize
Southern Pine in the production of plywood, Byrd, along with
Hodges, was instrumental in bringing the first plywood plant to
Louisiana. This was Vancouver Plywood Co. Inc., which located in
Florien and Oakdale. Byrd was named to the board of directors,
and served as secretary of the company.

  A. J. Hodges Forest Products Company Inc. was sold to Boise
Cascade Corporation in 1966, and Byrd went with the company as
manager of the Southern Wood Products division, and maintained an
office in DeRidder and in Many for over a year.

  For several years he was associated with H. D. E., Inc., a
furniture stock manufacturing company of Oakdale. He was
president of Hodges-Peavy Inc., a forest management and
utilization firm, and president of ADCO Inc., a manufacturing
company. He just recently acquired the Pleasant Hill Timber Co.
Inc. of Pleasant Hill, and had opened up an office in the old A.
J. Hodges Forest Products Company.

  As a close associate, Byrd shared Hodges innate love of the
beautiful garden, and aided him in the building and development
of Hodges Gardens, Louisiana's fabulous 4,700 acre "Garden in the
Forest" and family resort. In 1959, the year Hodges Gardens was
officially dedicated, Byrd was named general manager. Following
the transfer of the Gardens to the non-profit A. J. and Nona
Trigg Hodges Foundation in 1960, Byrd remained with the
foundation in an advisory capacity.

  Vitally interest in the welfare of his community and state, Byrd
was active in a number of organizations working toward the
betterment of both. He was a past president and member of the
board of the Many-Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce, a member of
the board of the Many Hospital and Clinic, a member of the board
of the Sabine State Bank and Trust Company, member of the board
of the Public Affairs Research Council, trustee of Gulf South
Research, member of the board of the Sabine Development
Association, and also vice president of same, member of the board
of trustees of the First Methodist Church in Many, past master of
Many Masonic Lodge No. 411, member of the Many Lions Club, member
of the board of the Louisiana Forestry Association and its
executive committee, member of the Southern Pulpwood Conservation
Association, and chairman of Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Drive
Commission.

  He was recipient of the "Citizen of the Year of Sabine Parish
Award" in 1964, presented through the Chamber of Commerce by the
Many Business and Professional Women's Club.