Kingman Has Prospered From The Dedicated Service Of A Living Legend

By Marvin Robertson

I looked out my window across a rapidly growing Kingman and wondered what it looked like in 1955 when Les Byram first arrived.

He will leave service June 7 in his second career as city councilman and mayor of the city.

In his first career, Byram left a legacy of 36 years service to generations of Kingman residents as an educator and school administrator. He often commented to people who came before the Kingman City Council about their time as a student in the school when he was principal.

He still tells local attorney Bill Porter that one year in Byram‘s eighth grade class was not enough for Porter to earn a promotion to high school.

Byram has led Kingman through a lot of growth during the past eight years and leaves the city finances in good shape. That makes the task of the new mayor and council much easier as they face the challenges of exploring growth in and around the city.

He has been active in local, state and national issues which impact Kingman and he has brought many projects to the city. Byram will attend meetings of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns in Phoenix on Friday and resign from his position as representative of the state on the Small City Council of the national city organization.

Byram was on the state committee that made the decisions on who would get money for transportation enhancement projects for Arizona. The work on Hualapai Mountain Road that included artistic sidewalks and landscaping came from one of those grants.

Working with the council and state agencies, he helped acquire grants totaling nearly a million dollars to renovate the Powerhouse and turn it into a visitor center, a Route 66 Museum, offices and meeting rooms.

An additional pair of grants will bring another $850,000 to renovate the Burlington Northern Santa Fe depot and build a park connecting the depot and Powerhouse visitor Center.

Byram encouraged the same state committee to fund the Mojave Wash project that will construct the floodway and build a trail from Beverly Avenue north to Bank Street near the high school. That project will cost $1.5 million and construct a recreational center piece out of the old wash.

He worked with ADOT to get the landscaping installed along Andy Devine Avenue from near Hoover Street to the depot downtown.

Stockton Hill Road was completed from Andy Devine Avenue past Northern Avenue during Byram‘s tenure, with the assistant city manager Lou Sorenson. That is one example of the street building during Byram’s eight years as mayor of a growing Kingman.

The Little League Fields at Southside Park were built over a period of years with city funds. The complex is recognized as one of the best in Arizona.

Enhancements to the softball fields at Centennial Park earned the recognition of the American softball Association and also serve the school system. Byram said the park and fields came in previous administrations, but additions were made during his eight years as mayor.

But, it is not the physical additions to Kingman that define his time as mayor.

Byram is everywhere in the community, meeting with people and speaking to groups. He spends special holidays honoring veterans, attends ribbon cuttings with the Chamber of Commerce always representing the best of Kingman.

It is full-time commitment to service that has been such an example for public service. He spent much time getting the new legislative districts drawn as they are now and more time fighting to avoid the changes that may yet put Kingman in a district with the Navajo Nation.

Byram has a dry sense of humor that serves him well at all times. That humor can make a boring council session interesting, and his polite manner takes away from the anger of some who speak at council meetings.

I have found his wit aimed in my direction a few times while covering city business and attending council meetings. I always appreciated his openness and willingness to share ideas and put up with my questions, no matter how busy he was.

We could all learn something from this man and his unselfish service to the community. He enjoyed being the mayor of Kingman and never complained about the long hours. The meager pay makes service to the city as an elected official virtually volunteer duty.

City manager Rodger Swenson often said citizens should respect individuals that give up time and money to serve in elective city office. Les Byram is a good example.

Don’t go too far away Mr. Mayor, because your wisdom and experience will still be assets to Kingman.

You will continue to serve on the board of the Kingman Regional Medical Center as you have for 18 years. All the area is healthier and has better medical care from your efforts in keeping the KRMC a locally owned hospital.

You keep saying you are not interested in running for the state legislature, but you will be asked again.

You and your wife deserve many more years of happiness. Enjoy them.

And thanks.

Marvin Robertson