James E. Byron Sr. ’49

Jamie came to Princeton from St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., and earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. He also was a 1953 graduate of Pratt Institute and received a master’s degree from George Washington University.

 

Jamie worked for W.D. Byron & Sons tannery. He became company president and was its only remaining family member when the company was acquired in 1975 by Walter Kidde & Co. Inc. In 1976, he joined the Department of Commerce as a leather-industry analyst until retiring in 2000.

 

Jamie was mayor of Williamsport, Md., from 1961 to 1965. One of his accomplishments as mayor was joining with a local brick manufacturer in transforming a 10-acre dump into Potomac River Park.

In 1952, Jamie married Lynne Kerwin. The couple lived in Williamsport on a farm built in 1755, now the Springfield Farm and Museum. In 1981 they moved to Windward Farm (circa 1820) in Shepherdstown. In recent years, they lived in Baltimore until her death in 1998.

 

Jamie is survived by his wife of 12 years, the former Snowdon Durham; a brother; two sons; two daughters; two stepsons; and nine grandchildren.