George (Butch) Byrd
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Sport:
Football |
| Year
Graduated: 1964 |
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Year
Inducted: 1980 |
The name George "Butch" Byrd is famous not only
at Boston University but also with the Buffalo Bills.
George Byrd was one of the best running backs and pass receivers
on the Terrier football team of the early '60s. He also handled
punt and kick off returns. He was a three-year regular, averaged
27.9 yards on kickoff returns as a senior, and had a career
total of 26 receptions for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Following graduation, he played for the Buffalo Bills, earning
all-pro honors in the American Football League as a defensive
back.
Art Dunphy wrote to L. Budd Thalman, vice president in charge
of public relations for the Bills, and was informed that in
1980, Butch Byrd remained the Bills' all-time leading interceptor
with 40 for 666 yards and five touchdowns. He also sent several
pictures of Butch in the Bills uniform taken during his great
career with Buffalo. Arthur has had one of them hung in the
Boston University alumni lounge.
Steve Sinko recruited him from the New York area, Steve's
pet area for getting football players. Butch came from Watervliet
and teamed up with Bob Horton of White Plains. They were know
as Messrs. Inside and Outside.
Butch stood six feet, two inches and weighed 205 pounds.
He ran the 100 yards in ten seconds and ran the dash for the
Terriers during the winter season. Because of his exceptional
speed, Butch was considered the best pass receiver on the
1965 team. In his junior year he led the team in scoring with
five touchdowns, two of them on passes.
George Winkler, now A.D. in the Newton School System and
one of the four 12 letter winners at B.U. was the person who
discovered Butch for Steve Sinko. In 1963 Butch Byrd won the
Thomas Gastall Award as the most outstanding back. In 1962,
on a team which had two wins and seven losses, he scored five
touchdowns and caught 12 passes for over 200 yards. For three
years, he was the shining light on teams that won seven, lost
18 and tied one.
