Senate Concurrent Resolution 518

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF DR. GEORGE WARREN BYRNE, AND EXTENDING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO HIS FAMILY UPON HIS DEATH.

WHEREAS, Dr. George Warren Byrne was born on June 11, 1921, in New Orleans, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Byrne was a graduate of Jesuit High School and Loyola University, graduated from Louisiana State University Medical School and completed his surgical residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, he served on the USS Hawkins in World War II as Chief Medical Officer; and

WHEREAS, it was always a source of great pride to him that he was able to serve his country, the Navy and the Marines as a doctor saving the lives of his country's soldiers; and

WHEREAS, he became a resident of Pass Christian in 1951, joining the medical staff of Gulfport Memorial Hospital; and

WHEREAS, he was only the second board-certified General Surgeon to practice on the Coast; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Byrne served on numerous boards and committees helping to improve medical and surgical care for the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast area for 35 years; and

WHEREAS, when he retired from the practice of medicine in 1986, he was a physician who still made house calls to treat his patients; and

WHEREAS, he was beloved by his patients for both his dedication to their medical care and compassion for them and their families; and

WHEREAS, those closest to him knew he enjoyed a quick wit and grand sense of Irish humor, enjoying nothing more than entertaining friends and family with jokes and stories; and

WHEREAS, a charter member of the Pass Christian Isles Golf Club, he was also past President of the Pass Christian Rotary Club, past Commodore of the Pass Christian Yacht Club, a founding member of the Pass Christian Republican Club, and a member of the Boston Club of New Orleans; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Byrne died January 7, 2004, in Pass Christian, known to all as a fine gentleman and an excellent doctor; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by his parents, J.K. and Katherine Byrne; his sisters, Katherine Byrne Lobdell and Jean Byrne Wagner; and brother, J.K. Byrne, Jr.; he is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Nancy G. Byrne; four sons: George W. Byrne, Jr. and his wife Susan of New Orleans, Louisiana; David E. Byrne and his wife Debbie of Pass Christian; Stephen P. Byrne of Gulfport; and Michael G. Byrne and his wife Gayle of Birmingham, Alabama; one daughter, Donna A. Byrne, of Birmingham, Alabama; and his sister, Mary Byrne Denechaud, of New Orleans, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, he is also survived by nine grandchildren, Meghan Byrne and Molly Byrne of Freemont, California; Elizabeth Byrne of Orlando, Florida; David Byrne, Jr., of Athens, Georgia; Cameron Byrne and Mary Frances Woods of Pass Christian; Stephen Byrne, Jr., of New York, New York; Melanie Voisin of Lafayette, Louisiana; and Camille Spratling, of Birmingham, Alabama; as well as three great-grandchildren, Braxton, Jacqueline and Emily Grace:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and work of Dr. George Warren Byrne, and extend to his family the sincere sympathy of this Legislature upon his death.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be furnished to the family of Dr. George Warren Byrne and to the Capitol Press Corps.