Afflicted with spina bifida as a child, Jay Byers learned to meet any and all challenges head on. He ultimately became a successful lawyer, practicing for more than three decades.
Born Feb. 27, 1937, in Hominy, Oklahoma, Jay was the son of Louis H. and Allene (Mills) Byers and the grandson of Chal Byers, one of the early leaders of Cleveland, Oklahoma. Through the strong and stern leadership of his father and the kind and loving guidance of his mother, Jay was able to become independent and overcome physical limitations. He learned to drive, first a motorcycle and then an automobile, and he became self-sufficient.
Jay attended school in Cleveland, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1955. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1959 from The University of Tulsa, then earned his Juris Doctor from The University of Tulsa College of Law in 1961. Jay was admitted to the Oklahoma State Bar in July 1961 and returned to Cleveland to begin a legal career, partnering with his father, Louis. He was an active member of both the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Pawnee County Bar Association.
A community builder, Jay contributed much to his hometown as a longtime member of the Cleveland Kiwanis Club and through his many years of service as the municipal judge. He also was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for most of his life. During the early 1980s, Jay was instrumental in reopening the Cleveland Municipal Pool, which reflected his love of swimming.
Upon his retirement in 1994, Jay moved to Round Rock, Texas, to be near his sister, Shirley Byers Laws, and her family. He remained active in his retirement as President of the Crossings Condominium Residents Association until he passed away on March 3, 2000, at the age of 63, from injuries received in an automobile accident in Austin, Texas.
To honor her brother’s path of self-determination and distinguished service to profession and community, Shirley Byers Laws endowed this scholarship to help future generations of TU law students overcome the obstacles in their paths.
