By Anthony Childress

JONESBORO — For 38 years William Byrd spent his days as a professor of biology at ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY broadening students’ minds and opportunities but also enjoyed playing a few pranks on his colleagues.
And during a dedication ceremony in the school’s biological sciences complex Saturday afternoon naming a lab room in his honor, Byrd, a Cleveland, Miss., native shared a few of those tales with friends, former co-workers and family.
“I liked to scare people with this set of false teeth. One day I went over to the College of Business and played a joke on one of the instructors.
He didn’t appreciate it and tattled on me to the head of the department,” Byrd, 75, said. “The funny thing is that I had just done the same thing to the department head and he laughed about it.”
In short order, though, Byrd found himself in office of then-ASU President Dr. Carl Reng.
“I received call telling me that the president wanted to see me right away. I went over to his office and when I walked in I saw the College of Business folks there and another man I didn’t recognize. Dr. Reng introduced him as the city attorney and said the instructor [in the College of Business] I played the prank on had filed a charge against me for willfully disguising oneself for the purposes of misrepresentation,” Byrd said, drawing laughter from his captive audience.
When all was said and done Reng asked Byrd for an explantion and upon hearing it chuckled and told the business chief to “deal with that duck [the instructor who brought the charge].”
Byrd’s long tenure in the biology department was noted during the ceremony by Dr. Aldemaro Romero, chair of the department.
“We are here to celebrate Professor Byrd for all of his accomplishments and the impact he had on this campus,” Romero said.
Former student Rich Harral pointed to his time spent with Byrd as life-shaping and considers him a mentor.
Harral joined forces with other supporters of the university to establish the William W. Byrd Laboratory Fund.
Its goal is to raise $50,000 for use in upgrading the lab bearing Byrd’s name.
“We set up the fund in 1999. It is because of Bill. He is someone I look up to. He has everything you could want in life — a terrific career, loving wife and family, friends. I have so much respect for him,” Harral added.
Byrd began his teaching stint at ASU in 1955 and taught biology, zoology and herpetology. He also served as chairman of the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee and the school’s Athletic Committee for a decade.
A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with degrees in biology and zoology, he published 35 articles in various science journals over the years.
“I remember conversations in the hallways here with my colleagues and it saddens me that we aren’t able to do that now. I would step right back in the classroom if I could,” Byrd said.
Former student and current associate professor of biology Alan Christian agreed.
“Bill had an infectious encouragement with students and I remember that. He brought that to the classroom,” Christian said.
Son Warren Byrd hailed his father’s longtime dedication to academics and helping young people as a primary reason for the lab being named for him.
“It is certainly an honor for my father and my family,” Byrd said.

anthony@jonesborosun.com