Roscoe Byrd

Roscoe Millard Byrd (1893-1983) was a Scott County postmaster and politician, who served as both county judge and county trustee.

See Also: Mayors of Scott County
Preceded By: C.W. Wright • Succeeded By: Charles T. Marcum

Early Life

Born Feb. 28, 1893, Byrd was the son of George Washington Byrd (1870-1923) and Nancy Phillips (1868-1943) of the Straight Fork community in eastern Scott County. He was a fourth generation Scott Countian.

Byrd married May Owens (1898-1978). They had no children.

Service in World War I

Byrd served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He received a Purple Heart.

Following the war, Byrd was a charter member of American Legion Post #136 in Oneida. He joined the organization on April 13, 1922.

Professional Life

Byrd was elected Scott County Trustee in 1922, and served in that capacity for many years before finally leaving office in 1940. Later in life, he served 15 years as postmaster at the Huntsville Post Office before retiring in 1967.

Judge of Scott County

In 1942, Byrd ran for Scott County Judge against C.W. Wright. It was a tight race, but Wright appeared to be the winner. He was declared victorious by a margin of 16 votes, and assumed office as county judge on Sept. 1, 1942, replacing William A. Terry.

Byrd contested the results of the election, claiming that ballots had been altered after the polls closed at several precincts — including Brimstone, Robbins, New River, Paint Rock, and Buffalo. He also charged a violation of the federal Hatch Act, saying that Scott County voters had been given incentives to vote for Wright. Chancellor J.H. Wallace of Scott County Chancery Court determined that Byrd had actually received 61 more votes than Wright.

Wright appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court. It was not until April 11, 1944 that the race was settled and Byrd was sworn into office as County Judge.

As a result, Wright served as County Judge for more than 19 months despite actually losing the election of 1942.

Byrd sued Scott County for salary from Sept. 1, 1942 to April 11, 1944 — an amount of $3,373 (the equivalent of almost $60,000 in 2023 dollars). The Tennessee Supreme Court ultimately determined that both men were owed the $3,373 salary — Byrd because he had been duly elected, and Wright because he had performed the duties of the office for 19 months.

Byrd was re-elected in 1946 and served as county judge for four more years before leaving office in 1950 when he was defeated by Charles T. Marcum, 2,832 to 2,678.

Death

Byrd died at his home in Huntsville on Nov. 28, 1983, at the age of 90. A funeral service was held at First Baptist Church of Huntsville with Rev. Dale Smith officiating, after which Byrd was buried at Byrd Cemetery.