Inside Clemson

Edward Ford Byars, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering – December 24, 2020

Edward Byars, 95, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering and retired executive assistant to the president, died December 24, 2020.

Byars earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Illinois. After World War II service in the Army Signal Corps, he was a member of the Clemson faculty from 1947 to 1960. He was professor and chairman of mechanical engineering at West Virginia University from 1960 to 1980 and dean of engineering from 1979 to 1980. He returned to Clemson University in 1980 as executive assistant to the president and retired in 1985. He was Professor Emeritus at Clemson and West Virginia Universities.

Byars was preceded in death by his wife, Betsy Cromer Byars.

He is survived by his four children: Laurie Myers (Michael) of Augusta, Georgia, Betsy Duffey (Bill) of Atlanta, Nan Byars (Don Boekelheide) of Charlotte, Guy Ford Byars (Nellie) of Cincinnati; and his nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

His full obituary is posted online.