Dr. Leland Byrd was West Virginia University’s fifth athletic director, serving the Mountaineers from 1972 to 1979.

He received all three degrees from WVU – bachelor’s (’48), master’s (’53) and doctorate (’67).

On the hardwood, the "Hammer" was praised by many as one of the finest left-handed cagers to ever play for the Mountaineers. Byrd played for his father Roy Byrd at Matoaka (W.Va.) High in Mercer County before enrolling at WVU in 1944. Because of World War II, the 6-foot-3-inch guard was allowed to play as a 17-year-old freshman. That year, he helped lead the Mountaineers to a 12-6 record under John Brickels and an invitation to play in the National Invitation Tournament in New York City’s Madison Square Garden where West Virginia lost its first-round game to George Mikan-led DePaul. (In those years, the NIT was the preeminent tournament and the NCAA was in its infancy.)

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• Position: Guard/Athletic Director
• Hometown: Matoaka, W.Va.
• Inducted into WVU Hall of Fame: 1991