Hall of Fame
"Early" Byrd, as fondly called by his teammates and friends, is from Jersey City, New Jersey, where he attended Lincoln High School.
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Earl was a member of Morgan's great football teams during the late '40's and early '50's. He was also a member of Morgan's basketball team during his stay at the college.
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"Early" Byrd was an outstanding end and was on the first team during his four years at Morgan. He was a co-captain of the 1952 team. He made the second CIAA team in 1950 and was selected to the first CIAA team in 1951. During his military career, "Early" was on the first Army Basketball Championship team.
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Earl Byrd is an outstanding leader in civic and community projects in Jersey City. Some of his accomplishments include: Vice-Chairman of the Jersey City Civil Rights Commission; Chairman of the NAACP Education Committee; and member of the Minority's Admissions and Recruitment Committee for the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry.Â
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Earl has been a teacher in the Jersey City Public Schools. He was the first Black Head Football Coach in Hudson County, New Jersey, and served as Executive Director of the Jersey City Community Action Agency. Earl is presently serving as an Administrative Officer of Dartmouth College's Learning Center.
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"Early" Byrd is a member of the Varsity "M" Club and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Earl is married to a former Morgan alumnus, Joyce Branford, and th father of five beautiful children. He is regarded by his friends as a devoted father and husband, a scholar, a great orator and a leader with an outstanding future.Â
Deceased.
