Evening star., 1938-09-04

and Senator TydingS at foot
ball game last year.
Star Staff Photo.
up all other outside interests, except writ
ing on educational topics He had been
vice president of a bank, sports writer for
The Star, president of the county Rotary
Club and real estate operator
Post Proves No PigeonhoIe.
1t was in July 1885, that Dr. Byrd became
acting president of the university, after
% years service on the campus. He was
made president on George WaShington's
birthday anniversary. 1886, by a Board of
Regents that voted to 2 for the appoint
ment. During the intervening months it
was reported he weighed carefully whether
taking the presidency would "pigeonhole"
him as gubernat torial candidate in 1888 or
1912. In view Of his activity along political
lines in recent months, apparently he con-
cluded it would not
When the Legislature met in 1887 he was
at Annapolis. as usual, obtaining ever
increasing funds for the university. Po-
litical experts speculated again on him as
gubernatorial prospect. The talk con-
tinued intermittenty and was heard far
and wide this year as the campaign got
under way.
Dr.. Byrd himself never made an outright
denial. He would tell reporters Six weeks
are enough in which to campaign" and
Il am not a candidate for anything today"
Before Mr. Lewis became the New Deal
candidate for Senator, there was some talk
OF DR.. Byrd for that race. But the dead
line for filing passed and he did not become
candidate. He lapsed into political OBJ
scurity for a few weeks only to bound back
into the spotlight with his invitation to the
President.
In the light Of the invitation, politicians
of the State awoke to the realization that
DR.. Byrd has apparently built a path to
the Presidential sanctum without their
realizing it. Many events Of the past sew
eral months assumed new significance.
The first contact between the university
and the White House of which the public
was apprised was conference which Dr.
Byrd had with Mr.. Roosevelt there last
January. The university head said they
talked about the weather Reports went
undenied that they discussed P. w. A.
grant to the university
Is Able to Produce.
The politicians now believe that Dr. Byrd,
who previously had worked through Senator
TydingS for such projects, found Mr.. Tyd-
ings powerless in the face of an unfriendly
administration and went to "headquarters"
himself The fact that later he obtained
indicated he had made friends with the New
Deal and revived talk of his availability as
a potential compromise gubernatorial cam
didate.
In May there was another White House.
College Park link when Mrs. Roosevelt
spoke before the university student body.
Finally, a few weeks ago, Dr. Byrd again
stepped out of the role usually played by
university presidents and called a meeting
Of State, county and town officials at Col
lege Park to hear P. W. A. leaders urge
them to make more requests for Federal
funds because Maryland was tagging in
its quota. The University of Maryland in
no wise was responsible for the lag
But playing unusual roles and doing
unusual things is nothing new in the story
book career of DR.. Byrd. His genial and
dynamic personality first made itself fet at
College Park in 1905. He came to the
Maryland Agricultural College from his
native Crisfield, where he was born in 1889,
and reported as a candidate for the football
squad. Coach Fred Nelson was unable to
see the determination and .tirelessness
cloaked in his 139 pounds told Curly" to
turn in his suit and give up a hopeless
task.
Becomes Able General
Freshman Byrd gave up his suit, but
increased his determination. He reported
next day in improved regalia made up of
a home jersey secondhand football
pants and a pair Of lo-cent womans stock
ings. He was used in the third game of
the season as an end. During the middle
of the next season he found his true posi-
ton, quarterback, a post where he Won
acclaim for clever field generalship, fine
kicking and fast, dangerous running.
He also became a baseball and track
star and was no sluggard with his studies,
completing the four-year engineering course
in three years. Throughout his college days
he was known as Curly" his coal-black,