Robert Byrd graduated with the Canyon High School class of 1977 thirty two years ago. While at CHS, he was involved in the Chorale, Show Choir, musical, and played football. He started enjoying choral music while at CHS and with the help of Doug McCause was selected to the All-State Choir his senior year. He continued his education at Hugh Sanders. After two years he felt the call to law enforcement. He transferred to Southwest Texas State University, where he worked toward a Criminal Justice Administration degree. He received his degree in August of 1981 and entered the Department of Public Safety academy in January 1982. The following May, he completed his training there and was commissioned as a highway patrol trooper. He married his Canyon High School sweetheart, the former Linda Ramaekers, and moved to his first duty station in Memphis, Texas. Twenty-five years later, he is still married to Linda and upholding the pledge he made to serve, protect, and uphold the laws of the State of Texas.
For ten years he worked the highways, where he handled road rage, DWI traffic, drug seizures, outstanding criminal warrants, and injury as well as fatality accidents. Even in situations as difficult as these he has the ability to calm and comfort the victims. During his ten years in Memphis he was recognized by his church as a spiritual leader and ordained as a deacon. He became the father of two daughters and one son.
He was promoted to highway patrol sergeant in 1993 and was relocated to Childress where he began supervising troopers. In 1999 the sergeant position in Amarillo opened and he decided that returning to Canyon area was best for his family. He was the highway patrol sergeant in Amarillo until the position in Canyon became available. He currently supervises the Randall, Swisher, and Brisco county troopers and is housed in Canyon. His children, Robbie, Tracie, and Ryan all attended CHS. Robert is currently serving as deacon at the First Baptist Church in Canyon and sings in the sanctuary choir where he continues to use his musical talent that was developed at Canyon High. He serves as a board member for Baptist Community Services and is involved in prison ministry at the Clements Unit in Amarillo. Throughout the past thirty years, he has been a leader in all the communities he has ever lived.
Throughout his career he has attended numerous conferences to improve his law enforcement skills including the 204th session of the FBI national academy for police administrators. He is a firearms instructor and has completed accident reconstruction training. He will be in Austin monitoring the next trooper recruit school. In April, he will be inducted into the DPS Quarter Century Club and honored at a reception to be held at the Texas Ranger Museum. First and foremost, he is a man of integrity, character, courage, and public service. These attributes were planted and nurtured during his time at CHS. His heart was imprinted with service by the words in the Canyon High Alma Mater.
