HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964 Robert Byrns Makes History Here SaturdayRobert Byrns
Makes History
Mere Saturday
A retired officer who began
his studies while assigned to
the Army detachment at Texas
A &M University will receive
Saturday the first Master of
Arts in history degree to be
conferred here.
He is Robert E. Byrns, who
has majored in history with a
minor in English. Graduate pro -'
grams in both subjects were
authorized only recently for
Texas A &M.
Byrns came to Texas A &M's
Department of Military Science
in 1958 and soon was taking his-
tory as a student.
A NATIVE of North Dakota,
Byrns received his bachelor's
degree in 1933 from Colorado
State College. He majored in
English and minored in history.
"When they started offering a
master's degree in history here,
I decided to try to get one,"
Byrns said.
For his master's thesis he
wrote a lengthy biography of
Lafayette Lumpkin Foster,
,president of Texas A &M in
1898 -1901 and friend of many
political leaders.
DR. J. M. NANCE, head of
the Department of History and
Government, served as chair-
man of Byrns' committee. Other
members were Dr. Al B. Nelson
of history and Dr. John Q. And-,
erson, English department head.
Byrns plans to enter the
teaching field but may remain
here for additional studies in
the Spring Semester.
His military career of 33 years
included 25 years of active duty.
He received the Army Com-
mendation Medal upon his re-
tirement last spring.
Mr. and Mrs. Byrns and their
two sons reside at 404 Timber,
College Station.