Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-02-21
BYRD IS BELIEVED
DUE TO HEAD NJ. j.
Pearson's Successor Will
Be Named at Session in
Baltimore Today.
By q STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

BALTIMORE. Md, February al
The presidency Of the University of
Maryland, vacant since the resigna-
ton of DR.. Raymond A. Pearson last
June. was to be filled today as the
Board of Regents met here to reach
its long-awaited decision.
The identity of the institutions new
chief executive was expected to be an
nounced some time around noon, or
shortly after the board acts ca recon-
mendations of special committee
appointed to canvas the field of avail
able candidates.
Byrd Believed Choice.
Harry Clifton (Curley) Byrd, acting
president since Dr. Pearson's resigna-
ton, was reliably reported to be the
choice of the committee which is
headed by Representative William P.
Cole, jr. Acceptance of the COM
mittee's selection was virtually assured.
The elevation Of Byrd from acting
president to. the presidency has been
anticipated for several months. He
has been Endorsed by numerous Mary
land organizations as 1.-The logical
man" for the position.
The "Diamondback" student weekly.
which attacked DR.. Pearson for
allegedly lowering the academic stand
ing of the university, urged editorially
the appointment of Byrd. Virtually
the entire student body signed petit
tons in his behalf.
The appointment Of Byrd would cli-
max a career probably unparalleled on
the campus of an American univer-
sity. He has been connected with the
institution almost continuously since
he enrolled as freshman in 1905
In the 80 years intervening he has
welded considerable influence over the
university's affairs, being credited with
inaugurating many progressive mea-
sures, including the consolidation OF
the old Maryland State College and
the University of Maryland, and in the
organization of the Southern Confer
ence, one of the leading athletic
groups in the country.
Byrd's career has been marked by
the steady march from student to the
directing head of a university with an
enrolment exceeding 1000. With the
exception of the consolidation, his
most noteworthy achievements prob.
ably are the reorganization of the edu.
cational system, which resulted in the
creation of the College of Arts and
Sciences; the winning fight to defeat
legislation looking to the division OF
schools, the building of new hospita
and the ironing out of difficulties al
the university which had been the OBJ.
ject of considerable criticism in the
past.
Graduate of NJ. A. G.
Byrd was born in Crisfleld Al year.
ago, the son of William F. Byrd. 9
member of the General Assembly. HI
graduated from the Maryland Agri.
cultural College in 1908, the younges
student ever to graduate from the
college in civil engineering. Later
he entered Georgetown University tt
study law.
He probably is more widely known
for his athletic prowess than ,as ar
educator, for he won fame as a pro.
fessional base ball player with Chi
cago and San Francisco end as heae
coach Of Maryland's varsity foot bal
team. AS student he was star ath'
lete in track, base ball and foot ball.
After short career in professional
sports. including a period as coaci
of high school foot ball, Byrd re.
turned to Maryland University in 191:
as an instructor in English, history
and coach. Two years later he be.
came director of athletics.