Former WVU Athletic Director and Basketball Player Leland Byrd Passes Away

On Thursday morning, it was announced by West Virginia University that former Director of Athletics Dr. Leland Byrd passed away in his Florida home, on Wednesday. Byrd was 94 years old.

Byrd was named the athletic director in 1972 and served six years until 1978. Byrd played basketball at WVU from 1944-48, becoming the program’s first 1,000-point scorer. Byrd was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1948 BAA draft.

The Kentucky native was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame for the class of 1991. In 2017, Byrd was recognized with a scholarship in his name at WVU.

Leland Byrd was more than a standout student-athlete, more than an innovative director of Athletics creating countless opportunities for our University. My thoughts are with his wife, Elizabeth, and his five daughters. He was a true Mountaineer and will be forever missed.

— E. Gordon Gee (@gordongee) January 20, 2022

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Dr. Leland Byrd.

Byrd was the first 1,000-point scorer in WVU history and a member of the inaugural WVU Sports Hall of Fame induction class in 1991.https://t.co/DKgLr0PSBN#HailWV

— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) January 20, 2022