Oral history with the Honorable Tony Byrne

              Oral history with the Honorable Tony Byrne
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of University of Southern Mississippi Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage.
Funding provided by a National Leadership Grant for Libraries from the Institute for Museum and Library Services
The transcript is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Mr. Henry Anthony " Tony" Byrne Jr. was born May 18, 1936, in Natchez, Mississippi, to Mr. Henry Anthony Byrne and Mrs. Anita Kaiser Byrne. He attended public schools in Natchez and graduated from Natchez High School in 1954. He attended Mississippi State University on an athletic scholarship and graduated with a degree in marketing in 1958.
Returning to Natchez, Mr. Byrne worked briefly for a printing company and an insurance firm before becoming assistant manager, and later manager, of the Natchez Chamber of Commerce. In 1966 he won a special election to the Natchez Board of Aldermen, and in 1968 Mr. Byrne was elected mayor of Natchez. He served five terms as mayor before retiring from public office in 1988. Today he owns an advertising business in Natchez.
Mr. Byrne has been active in civic and professional organizations. He served as president of the Natchez Jaycees and president of the Mississippi Municipal Association. He was appointed to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration by Governor John Bell Williams and served a number of years on that commission. He is married to the former Annette Smith of Lincoln County, Mississippi, and is the father of two children, Christie and Kevin. Mr. Byrne is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Natchez.
Table of Contents
I. Family Background and Education
II. Industrial Development in the Natchez Area
A. The Depression
B. The Economic Impact of the Natchez- Adams County Port
C. Floods Along the Mississippi River
III. Sports Activities in High School and College
IV. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Division
V. Tenure as Mayor of Natchez
A. Racial Unrest in Natchez during the 1960s and 1970s
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