David Byrd (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Byrd
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| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 71st district |
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| In office January 13, 2015 – January 10, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Vance Dennis |
| Succeeded by | Kip Capley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 8, 1957 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Sherry |
| Children | 4 |
| Residences | Waynesboro, Tennessee |
| Education | Freed–Hardeman University (BS) Tennessee State University (MS) |
David Byrd (born September 8, 1957) is an American politician and a retired basketball coach from Tennessee. As a member of the Republican Party, Byrd served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023. He represented the 71st district, which includes several counties in Middle Tennessee.
Political Career
Before becoming a state politician, David Byrd worked as a school administrator and basketball coach at Wayne County High School. He was also a County Commissioner for Wayne County from 1990 to 1994.
In 2014, Byrd decided to run for the Tennessee House of Representatives. He won the Republican primary election against the person holding the office at the time, Vance Dennis. Byrd then won the main election and became the state representative for the 71st district.
Calls for Resignation
In 2018, three women accused Byrd of acting inappropriately many years earlier when he was their high school basketball coach. Byrd denied the accusations.
Because of the controversy, some important politicians, including the Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, asked him to resign from his position. Byrd chose not to resign and was re-elected in 2018.
Other lawmakers continued to ask him to step down. In 2019, Byrd told other politicians that he would not run for re-election in 2020. However, he later changed his mind and ran again, winning the election.
Health and COVID-19
In June 2020, Byrd voted for a resolution that claimed the media was exaggerating the news about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Later that year, in December 2020, Byrd was hospitalized after getting sick with COVID-19. He was in the hospital for eight months and was very ill. He needed a ventilator to help him breathe for 55 days and also required a liver transplant. After he recovered, he encouraged people to think about getting vaccinated, saying that COVID-19 is a very dangerous disease.
In August 2021, Byrd and other Republican members of the Tennessee House sent a letter to Governor Bill Lee. They asked the governor to stop any rules that would require people to wear masks or get vaccines.
Byrd did not run for re-election in 2022.
Personal Life
Byrd and his wife, Sherry, live in Waynesboro. They have four children and five grandchildren.
