David Byrd (politician) facts for kids

David Byrd (born September 8, 1957) is an American politician and retired basketball coach from the state of Tennessee. A Republican, Byrd represented the 71st district of the Tennessee House of Representatives, based in Hardin, Lawrence, Lewis, and Wayne Counties in rural Middle Tennessee, from 2015 to 2023.

Career

Byrd spent most of his career as a school administrator and basketball coach at Wayne County High School. He also served as a Wayne County Commissioner from 1990 through 1994.

In 2014, Byrd announced he would challenge Vance Dennis, state representative for the 71st district, in the Republican primary. He narrowly defeated Dennis in the primary and went on to win the general election unopposed in the heavily Republican district.

COVID-19

In June 2020, Byrd voted in support of Tennessee House Resolution 340 stating that "mainstream media has sensationalized the reporting on COVID-19 in the service of political agendas." In December 2020, Byrd was hospitalized with COVID-19. He had attended a caucus meeting with nearly 70 House Republicans in the House chamber on November 24, a week-and-a-half before he was hospitalized with the virus. He spent a total of eight months in the hospital, 55 days on a ventilator, and required a liver transplant in June 2021. His condition was so grave, that his family had planned for his funeral. After recovering from the disease, he tepidly urged people to get vaccinated saying "I understand the concerns of those who are hesitant [to get the vaccine]. To them, I would say COVID is real, and it is very dangerous. It is a disease that wants to kill us. Please consider getting vaccinated."

However, on August 11, 2021, he joined all members of the state house Republican caucus in signing a letter to Governor Bill Lee asking him to prohibit mask and vaccine mandates.

Byrd did not run for re-election in 2022.

Personal life

Byrd lives in Waynesboro with his wife Sherry; they have four children and five grandchildren.