Douglas Byington - Class of 1950

Douglas Byington was born on December 30, 1932 in Reno Nevada at St. Mary’s Hospital. He attended a number of schools in the Sparks area including Robert Mitchell, Sparks Junior High, and Sparks High. While attending Sparks High, he was involved in many activities and was well known. He was a proud athlete who played basketball and football for Sparks High School. Not only did he play sports, but he was also a member of student council, performed in school plays, and sang in the school choir.

Doug graduated from High School in 1950. He then took a year off from school and continued the job he held in high school,  working for his stepfather’s trucking and feed store.

In February of 1951, Douglas went to college at UNR. There he majored in history and minored in political science. He played one year of football and enjoyed two undefeated years of boxing. This achievement got him into the UNR Athletic Hall of Fame. Also at UNR he was a member of Sigma Nu and Blue Key, and he was the president of Coffin and Keys. On August 7, 1954, Douglas married his wife, Nancy Byington. In June of 1955, he completed college and was drafted into the army. In 1958, he was appointed second Lieutenant and twenty years later, in 1978, Doug was appointed Brigadier General. Then in June 1988, he retired as a Major General after thirty-seven years of service in the Army, Navy and National Guard.

In 1957, Douglas taught for four years. In 1961, he was appointed the vice principal of Sparks Junior High School. He was the first principal at O’Brien Middle School. Currently Mr. Byington is involved in a great number of organizations. He is the president of the Westmoreland Chapter. He is a lobbyist for the Nevada Association of School Administrators and is a former councilman for the City of Sparks.

Inducted 2003