Harry F. Byrd Sr. (1887-1966)

Harry Flood Byrd Sr., governor of Virginia (1926-1930) and U.S. senator (1933-1965), was a conservative Democrat who led a political organization that directed state politics for four decades. As governor, he reorganized state government, instituted a “pay as you go” fiscal policy, improved highways, and promoted tourism, in part by establishing the state historical marker program. In Congress, Byrd advocated economical government and opposed liberal programs. He led Virginia's Massive Resistance to public school desegregation. Just to the south is Rosemont, Byrd’s home from 1929 to 1966. George Norris, first sheriff of Clarke Co., lived on the property from 1811 to 1854.