Remembering Senator Robert C. Byrd

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2010—ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl paid tribute this week to the Appalachian legacy of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd.

"Senator Byrd lived and breathed Appalachia," said Gohl. "It was more than just where he came from. It was his life and his passion. His focus and dedication was to provide Appalachian families with greater economic opportunities and to give them a chance to share in the 'American dream.' "

A strong advocate for ending Appalachia's geographic isolation with four-lane highways all across the Region, Byrd's support was crucial for funding the Appalachian Development Highway System, a 3,090-mile highway network that connects Appalachia to the interstate highway system.

In recognition of his steadfast commitment to the economic development of the Appalachian Region, in 2004 he was awarded the only lifetime achievement award ever given by the Development District Association of Appalachia.