Lester Wade Byram, a longtime Kingman resident, passed away at age 92 on Aug. 19, 2021, at home in the company of family following a brief illness.

Lester was born and grew up in Melbourne, Arkansas, where he played college basketball at Arkansas Tech. He received a graduate degree in Education from Arizona State University and undertook doctoral studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson. In 1957, Lester moved to Kingman, where he taught junior high school and coached champion basketball teams. Lester Byram went on to serve as the principal of Manzanita Elementary School and Kingman Junior High School.

From the time he moved to Kingman, Lester was actively involved in the community. He served on the Kingman Regional Hospital Board for many years during the time the KRMC campus was constructed. Lester was a councilmember as well as Kingman’s longest-serving mayor. Les was involved with many community service organizations for many decades including Rotary, Elks and Toastmasters. He enjoyed playing basketball and softball competitively for many years in local Kingman Leagues. He was the Grand Marshal for the Andy Devine Day Parade. Les attended St. John’s United Methodist Church.

Lester is survived by his wife Lyndal; three sons John, Kevin and Bobby; daughter-in-law Simran and grandson Neil.

Graveside service will be with immediate family. A date for a memorial celebration will be announced at a later date. Donations in place of flowers can be made in Lester’s honor to Kingman Middle School.