Norwich University

Byrne is the first of three Distinguished Letter winners in this year's class. He played varsity basketball for all three years he was eligible and served as a co-captain during his senior season. He was a Vermont All-State selection his senior season, helping lead the Cadets to a 23-3 record. 

"I'm very honored that my friends pushed for me to be inducted," Byrne said. "It just shows you that at Norwich you can make friends that last forever. It's an amazing place. Bob Brannum was a tremendous coach. He and his wife were very kind to the whole team and helped make Northfield our home away from home." 

Byrne credited his senior season in 1965-66 to Brannum and his teammates. "My senior year, there wasn't a game we didn't let the other team know they were in for a battle," Byrne said. "We had a lot of highlights. I had a successful year offensively and defensively but a lot of credit goes to my teammates like Paul Stukowski and Greg Peterson." 

After graduating Norwich, Byrne attended Suffolk Law School and went on to have a successful law career in Florida. He was an assistant U.S. attorney for three years in Florida, serving as a prosecutor and trial lawyer for three years. After that, he started what would become the biggest firm in Florida that specialized in condemnation.