CHARLESTON — Beneath a life-sized statue of history’s longest-serving U.S. lawmaker, West Virginia officials were paying tribute to Sen. Robert C. Byrd.
Gov. Joe Manchin told a crowd of more than 200 in the state Capitol Wednesday that West Virginians have never lost confidence in the senior senator, who has been in Congress since 1953, with the last five decades spent in the Senate.
Manchin said Byrd was the first politician to ever win a majority of votes in all 55 counties in a contested election.
Manchin says that proves Byrd’s appeal to Democrats, Republicans and independent voters alike.
The tribute to Byrd includes an exhibit in the Capitol. Photos from throughout his career sit alongside pieces of memorabilia, including his famous fiddle.
Byrd, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1952, and then to the U.S. Senate in 1958, has served West Virginia for 56 years, 320 days. That surpasses the record set by Senator Carl Hayden of Arizona, who served from 1912 to 1969.
The senator was honored during a ceremony at the Capitol, at the foot of the statue dedicated when Byrd was named “West Virginian of the 20th Century.”
His accomplishments in Washington are legendary. He served as Senate majority whip from 1971 to 1977, Senate minority leader from 1981 to 1987, and Senate majority leader from 1977 to 1981 and again from 1987 to 1989. Byrd is the current president pro tempore of the Senate, a position he has held four times. He is currently third in the presidential line of succession, behind Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant and Manchin signed a proclamation at the ceremony marking the occasion.
“It is such an honor to sign this proclamation for Sen. Byrd,” Tennant said. “It’s really impossible to thank him for everything he has done for our state. He has represented us admirably, and I congratulate him on becoming the longest serving member in the history of the United State Congress.”
Manchin said Byrd possesses a “strong moral compass.”
“What a remarkable national milestone we are celebrating today,” Manchin said. “Our senior senator becomes the longest serving member of Congress in the history of the United States government.”
State Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin and Speaker of the House of Delegates Rick Thompson each read proclamations passed the day Byrd became the longest serving member of Congress.
This week marks two milestones for Byrd. He turns 92 on Friday. The ceremony ended with Manchin, First Lady Gayle Manchin, Tennant, her daughter Delaney, and other state leaders singing “Happy Birthday.”
Manchin ended the song by adding: “And many more!”
West Virginia
Related Photos
-
SUBMITTED PHOTO
State officials pay tribute to Byrd
- West Virginia
-
-
Veterans cemetery dedicated on Memorial Day
West Virginia’s new $14.1 million veterans cemetery has been dedicated at a Memorial Day ceremony in Institute.
-
Big outside spending may await W.Va. races
West Virginia can expect some hefty spending by non-candidates on some of its major general election races, if recent history is any guide.
And just in time for this potential flood of political ads, a new court case is challenging the state’s rules on the topic. -
Big outside spending may await W.Va. races
West Virginia can expect some hefty spending by non-candidates on some of its major general election races. And just in time for this potential flood of political ads, a new court case is challenging the state’s rules on the topic.
-
Man gets life sentence for ex-wife’s death
A man was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in the beating death of his ex-wife.
Thomas Charlie Lee Runner, 46, of Galloway, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Wednesday at the Barbour County Courthouse in Philippi. -
State campaign finance limits challenged in court
A political group formed to aid West Virginia incumbents this November won a partial victory Thursday after suing over the state’s limits on campaign contributions and a policy addressing corporate spending.
-
Relatives other than parents raising kids
Sharon Davis jumped in and obtained custody of her young grandson when her daughter got tangled in a web of drugs. A decade later, her daughter is straightened out and now has her own little girl, while her son remains with Davis.
-
Project aims to get West Virginians active
A new wellness project aims to motivate West Virginians to get off their couches and be healthy.
LiveWell West Virginia is a collaboration of the West Virginia University Extension Service and the Charleston Gazette. -
Missing girl’s mother gets eight months for welfare fraud
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the mother of a 3-year-old girl who vanished eight months ago this week to spend eight months behind bars for welfare fraud.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey ruled that Lena Lunsford must begin serving her sentence June 28. -
West Virginia seventh in death rates for accidents, violence
Drug overdoses and motor vehicle crashes helped push West Virginia’s death rate involving accidents and violence to the seventh-highest in the nation, according to a report on injury prevention released Tuesday.
-
W.Va. could add hurdles to primary ballot
West Virginia officials have several options if they want to avoid repeating an outcome of this month’s primary election, when imprisoned felon Keith Judd attracted nearly 41 percent of the vote against President Barack Obama.
- More West Virginia Headlines
-
Veterans cemetery dedicated on Memorial Day
