Passion & Purpose: Spring 2025
Quiet man's estate gifts benefit Bootheel community
James L. Byrd III was not someone who wanted attention. It's an interesting reality for a man whose voice was well known through Charleston, a southeastern Missouri community where he long operated a radio station - and whose legacy will impact the area forever through endowments totaling more than $2 million that serve the school and city.
"He wanted to add something to the community," shares Hudson Byrd of his cousin. "It's a unique opportunity to give a shot in the arm to the city of Charleston and to the school district."
Byrd, who went by Jim, died in 2020. Most of his 90 years were spent in connection with the Bootheel community where his family built a legacy in lumber and land.
Even though he didn't appreciate publicity, ''he was a good person, and he helped people," says Reginald Young, an attorney who is Byrd's personal representative and has long known the family.
Byrd was a quiet man; he didn't marry or have any children. He was generous, like when he gave two local churches new pipe organs years ago. And he devoted his life to other loves: trains, Packard automobiles and radio — topics for which he developed deep wells of knowledge.
"He could tell you what the call letter stood for some station in Chicago or New York or New Orleans," Young says. "It was just an amazing, wide range of knowledge that he had on those particular subjects."
Endowments established by Byrd’s estate have already funded improvements at the school district and city park in Charleston.
Byrd founded South Missouri Broadcasting Company (KCHR) in 1954. It was on air for about half a century before he retired. In its heyday, the station was a connection point for the small community, with advertisements, programs and information bringing people together.
"Back in the day, lots of people in Charleston listened to it," Young says, noting that it broadcast hit music, sports games — with local sports enthusiasts as commentators — and even was a connection for half-hour local church programs on Sundays.
"They had a piano there and the microphone, and they would sing and play," Young says, noting that the services also included a sermon. "He always said he never went to church, but he knew he'd heard more sermons than anybody he ever knew because he was probably hearing seven, eight sermons every Sunday."
When Byrd died, his legacy and family business left a sizeable estate to serve beyond his lifetime. With direction from Young and Hudson Byrd, a sizeable portion of Byrd's estate was put into service through the Bootheel Regional Community Foundation. The CFO affiliate now holds two $1 million endowments; one benefits the City of Charleston, and another serves the Charleston R-1 School District. Other funding helped improve the city's parks and established a $1 million scholarship fund for local students attending Three Rivers College.
''What we tried to do was spend some of the money on projects that would have some immediate impact and then spend some of the money on projects that would last in perpetuity," Young says.
''We are very fortunate to have been touched by his generosity," says Greg Luehmann, Charleston's city manager. ''We received our first payment in February for $42,000, which will allow us to maintain all the equipment in the parks and do additional improvements as we move forward."
At the school, the funds will initially improve the restroom facilities as well as cosmetic issues at the district's 60-year-old facilities. An example already complete: Stuccoing the school's football field house where brick was crumbling.
''We are extremely thankful for the endowment fund," says Jamarcus Williams, superintendent of the Charleston R-I School District. ''We want our students and community to feel proud and safe about their schools and these funds help achieve that goal."
Ultimately, the funds will continue improving Charleston far beyond Byrd's lifetime.
"I don't think Jim ever wanted to be told, 'Thank you' or congratulated or anything like that," Hudson Byrd says. "He just wanted to say, 'I didn't have a need for this, and I saved it up and I think it can be put to a better use in this town, which has its own struggles, and maybe it can make it a better place."'
By Kaitlyn McConnell • This essay is featured in the spring 2025 edition of Passion & Purpose.
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Leaving a legacy doesn’t require a million-dollar gift — only a passion to support your favorite school, community or nonprofit beyond your lifetime. Contact Ashley Silva, the CFO’s vice president of development and philanthropic services, to learn more
