Byrd began night classes at American University Washington College of Law in 1953, while a member of the United States House of Representatives. He earned his Juris Doctor degree cum laude a decade later, by which time he was a U.S. Senator. President John F. Kennedy spoke at the commencement ceremony on June 10, 1963, and presented the graduates their diplomas, including Byrd. Byrd completed law school in an era when only three years of undergraduate education were required. He later decided to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, and in 1994 he graduated summa cum laude from Marshall University.
Byrd began night classes at American University Washington College of Law in 1953 while a member of the United States House of Representatives He earned his Juris Doctor degree cum laude a decade later by which time he was a US Senator President John F Kennedy spoke at the commencement ceremony on June 10 1963 and presented the graduates their diplomas including Byrd Byrd completed law school in an era when only three years of undergraduate education were required He later decided to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and in 1994 he graduated summa cum laude from Marshall University