Byrne was a teacher, leader

Servants must be saluted. Cedar Rapids lost a giant Nov. 18. Sometimes this one wore the uniform of a Cedar Rapids Peace Officer; other times a shirt and tie. Always attentive, kind and helpful. That was Chief of Police Bud Byrne. I will miss his annual Christmas card. He was my teacher as I pursued the police department's training for reserve police officers. In 1990, Mayor Don Canney and Chief Byrne presided as we were sworn in as reserve officers.

Byrne truly ran the race, fought the good fight and made Cedar Rapids a safer and better place to be. Thank you, Chief. Good teachers touch eternity, as did he. He elevated those he touched to a higher level. It was his leadership that supported the police officers, such as Lt. Mike Emerson and retired Chief Mike Klappholz.

Was Byrne a man of faith? Yes! In faith there are no questions. Without faith, there are no answers. Now someone has called Bud. God has called him home.

Thomas Walsh

Springville