Who Is Byron White? Age, Biography and Wiki
Byron White was born on June 8, 1917, and passed away on April 15, 2002, at the age of 84. He was a multifaceted personality who made significant contributions to American society through his roles as both a distinguished U.S. Supreme Court Justice and a celebrated professional football player.
White was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, and grew up in a modest family environment that instilled values of hard work and perseverance. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he earned his law degree from the University of Colorado and quickly rose to prominence in the legal field. Appointed to the Supreme Court by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, his judicial philosophy and landmark opinions have had a lasting impact on American law.
| Occupation | Supreme Court Justice |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 8, 1917 |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 15 April, 2002 |
| Died Place | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
Popularity
Byron White's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While exact measurements of Byron White's height and weight during his lifetime are not widely documented, he was known to be an athletic figure during his football career. Standing around 6 feet 1 inch tall, his presence was felt both on the field and in the courtroom.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Byron White was married to his beloved wife, Mary E. White, for over 60 years. They had two children together and maintained a close-knit family throughout their lives. Byron was known for his deep personal values and commitment to family, often prioritizing his loved ones alongside his professional responsibilities.
His father, A. Albert White, managed a local lumber company. His mother, Maude Elizabeth (Burger), was the daughter of German immigrants. He had one older brother, Clayton "Sam" Samuel White.
Neither parent graduated high school, which was not unusual for farming communities at the time, but they instilled in their sons a heavy emphasis on education and took active roles in the local community. White and his brother were raised in the nearby town of Wellington where they attended the local high school.
As a young student, White worked odd jobs to support his family during the town's decline in the 1920s; these included roles in harvesting beets, shoveling coal, and hard construction work among other forms of manual labor.
In his junior year, he and his brother rented out land and spent long hours in the fields, during which time White adopted a nearly lifelong habit of smoking.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 2002, Byron White's estimated net worth was approximately $15 million. His wealth stemmed from a successful career in football, where he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions, and through his significant influence in the legal field as a Supreme Court Justice. Additionally, he was known to have made wise investments, contributing to his financial legacy.
Career, Business and Investments
Byron White's career trajectory is extraordinary. He was not only an All-American football player but also a leading legal mind. After playing two seasons in the NFL from 1938 to 1940, he pivoted to a career in law, eventually leading him to his appointment to the Supreme Court.
Beyond his judicial role, White contributed to various legal organizations and was active in discussions surrounding civil rights and liberties. His keen insights and rulings helped shape a more just legal landscape in the United States.
White graduated from law school with honors in 1946 and clerked for Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson. He eschewed work for a white-shoe firm and returned to Colorado in order to enter private practice in Denver as a transactional attorney. Minor work as the Colorado state chair of John F.
Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign led to him being unexpectedly tapped in 1961 for a position as U.S. Deputy Attorney General. He was successfully nominated by Kennedy to the Supreme Court the next year, becoming the Court's first justice from Colorado.
Social Network
While social media platforms didn't exist during his lifetime, the legacy of Byron White continues to be honored and discussed in various forums, including legal publications and history retrospectives. His influence is maintained through articles, documentaries, and conversations surrounding civil rights and the legal system.
White consistently supported the Court's post-Brown v. Board of Education attempts to fully desegregate public schools, even through the controversial line of forced busing cases. He voted to uphold affirmative action remedies to racial inequality in an education setting in the famous Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case of 1978.
Though White voted to uphold federal affirmative action programs in cases such as Metro Broadcasting, Inc. v. FCC, 497 U.S. 547 (1990) (later overruled by Adarand Constructors v. Peña, 515 U.S. 200 (1995)), he voted to strike down an affirmative action plan regarding state contracts in Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co. (1989).
Education
Byron White's educational journey laid the foundation for his impressive career. He graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts and later earned his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. His dedication to education and learning was evident in all aspects of his life, and he often emphasized the importance of education in making informed legal decisions.
Born and raised in a small homestead in Wellington, Colorado, White distinguished himself as a student athlete who came from a background of poor farmhands to become a consensus All-American halfback for the Colorado Buffaloes.
After being the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1937, he was selected in the 1938 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates for the National Football League (NFL). He led the league in rushing yards during his rookie season.
White graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder as class valedictorian, attaining a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University.
After World War II forced him to return to the United States, he matriculated at Yale Law School, played for the Detroit Lions in the 1940 and 1941 seasons while still enrolled, and served as an officer for the United States Navy in the Pacific Theatre.
