John Robertson Byers

A 1951 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, John Byers served 31 years in the Army and was a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He went on to careers as a business executive and art gallery owner, while working tirelessly to shape his community for nearly 50 years.

John was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on August 8, 1926, into an Army family, and grew up in a variety of places in the East and Midwest. He attended Purdue University briefly before enlisting in the Army in 1944. He attended officer candidate school and served with the 113th Infantry and later with the 1st Cavalry Division in the Philippines and Japan. In 1947, he was appointed to West Point, his dream since the age of 8. He went on to serve in the 82nd Airborne Division, in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division, and both in the U.S. and Germany with the 2nd, 3rd and 14th Armored Cavalry Regiments.

John earned an MS in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech in 1961 and, later, an MBA in personnel management from Central Michigan. He served on the faculty of the Armor School at Fort Knox and the Combat Developments Command. In 1964 he was assigned as the senior American advisor to the governor of Binh Duong Province in Vietnam. After subsequent staff assignments at the Pentagon, he attended the Army War College. Following commands of an armored cavalry squadron on border duty and a brigade in Germany, he was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was appointed Chief of Armor Branch in 1973, serving as an ombudsman for all young Armor officers, guiding their careers and helping them over obstacles. It was one of his most satisfying assignments.

Among his military decorations were four Legion of Merit awards, the Soldier’s Medal, two Bronze Stars, three Air Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation medals and a Purple Heart.

After retiring in 1975, he joined California-based Data-Design Laboratories, becoming their Arlington manger before retiring again in 1986, when he and his wife bought the Prince Royal Gallery, which they built into one of the largest and oldest galleries in Alexandria. At one point, John started an art program for children with learning disabilities. He would mat and frame their art, at his own cost, and then host a reception and show for their families and friends. The Byerses sold the gallery in 2004, but John remained as director until 2008. As a business owner, he was active in the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, the Old Town Business Association and the Old Town Civic Association.

John leaves a significant legacy in his community. During the first of three terms as president of the Williamsburg Manor North Community Association, he sued the Board of Zoning Appeals—thought to be the first time the BZA had ever lost a court decision—to stop the development of high rise apartments on a neighboring tract of land zoned for low density use. He then led the effort to build Mount Vernon Hospital, a government center, fire station, police station, school, library, and other much-needed services. His vision and leadership as the Mount Vernon planning commissioner for 21 years—10 of them as vice chair of the Planning Commission—led to the multi-use development and revitalization of Richmond Highway. He also played a key role, working with the Park Authority, Department of Planning and Zoning and Laurel Hill Task Force, in transforming the old Lorton Prison into a thriving community of homes, schools, parks and a center for the arts. John served on the PLUS Committee (the precursor to the Comprehensive Plan) and was chair of the Fairfax County Group Residential Facilities Commission for 12 years. He served on every Area Plan Review Task Force for the Mount Vernon District, was chair of the Mount Vernon Visioning Task Force's Land Use Committee, and a charter member of the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation. A member of the Mount Vernon Council's Planning and Zoning Committee for over 40 years, John served on numerous other boards and committees—six at the time of his death, including the Fairfax County Water Authority. He was the Mount Vernon Council's Citizen of the Year in 1994 and in 1997, received the Lord Fairfax award for outstanding volunteer service in the Mount Vernon District.

A wine aficionado and avid art collector, he and his wife were also members of the ZNA Potomac Koi Club.

John was a life member of the Association of the U.S. Army, the VFW, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the U.S. Cavalry Association, the Military Officers Association, the Army War College Foundation, the 2nd Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Division Associations, the 3rd and 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment Associations and the Army Historical Foundation. In 2002 the West Point Society of the District of Columbia gave him its Distinguished Graduate Award.

John died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 29, 2012, a week short of his 86th birthday. He is survived by Peggy, his beloved wife of 61 years; his children (and their spouses) — Susan (Len), Leslie (David) and Dan (Maira); nine wonderful grandchildren—Ian, Bryn, Tristan, Samuel, Zoe, Leah, Ben, Juliana and Andrew; brothers Morgan (Tootie) and George (Gloria), and sisters Betty, Barbara, Lili (Peter), Lia (Stephen) and Alicia (Marvin); his step-mother Meiching; four brothers-in-law—Bob, his former roommate at West Point (Joyce), Richard (Joan), Bill and Donny (Nancy); many nieces and nephews; and friends around the world. He is also deeply missed by his devoted Akitas, Abel and Bono.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the American Cancer Society, ASPCA, Capital Caring, Defenders of Wildlife, Fisher House, Smile Train, United Community Ministries or the Wounded Warrior Project.