 Byrd completed law school in an era when undergraduate degrees were not a requirement.He later decided to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, and in 1994 he graduated "summa cum laude" from Marshall University.In 1952, Byrd was elected to the United States House of Representatives for West Virginia's 6th congressional district, succeeding E. H. Hedrick, who retired from the House to make an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for Governor.