Byrnes, William H., Jr.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Byrnes, William H., Jr., New Orleans, son of Col. William H., and Ellen Conery) Byrnes, was born at New Orleans, La., April 24, 1881. He graduated from Georgetown university in 1903, with the degree of A. B., winning the highest honors of his class, and in 1904 received his degree of LL. B. from Tulane university of Louisiana. In 1913 Loyola college also conferred upon him the degree of doctor of laws, and has recently appointed him as a member of the faculty of its law school. Mr. Byrnes was admitted to the bar shortly following his graduation with the Tulane law class of 1904, and at once entered upon the practice of law in the city of New Orleans.

He is a democrat, politically, and in 1912 was elected to the state Senate of Louisiana. In addition to other conspicuous service rendered during the session of the legislature following his election, he has the distinction of having introduced the bill which gave commission form of government to the city of New Orleans. Senator Byrnes is a member of the Catholic church and also of several social clubs and fraternal organizations, those including the Knights of Columbus, Chess, Checkers and Whist club, Benevolent and Protective order of Elks, and others. In 1904 Senator Byrnes was married to Miss Grace Beatrice Woodburn, of Carson City, Nev., daughter of Hon. William Woodburn, member of Congress from Nevada, and a former attorney-general of his state. One son, Bentley G., has been born to their union.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, p. 751. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.