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| birth_place=Place of birth missing

| birth_place=Place of birth missing

| occupation=[[Educator]]

| occupation=[[Educator]]

| spouse= Cecilia O'Rear Byars  

| spouse= Cecilia O'Rear Byars  

| residence=Beaumont, [[Texas]]

| residence=Beaumont, [[Texas]]

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'''Noel Eugene Byars, Sr.,''' known as '''Gene Byars''' (born July 4, 1939), is a retired [[educator]] from Beaumont, [[Texas]],<ref>Yahoo People Search</ref> who served from 1982 to 1989 as the [[mayor]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], the seat of government for Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Byars was recalled  on January 21, 1989, at the midway point of his second term through a citizens' initiative after it was revealed that he had charged the city for personal expenses on his municipal credit card.

'''Noel Eugene Byars, Sr.,''' known as '''Gene Byars''' (born July 4, 1939), is a retired [[educator]] from Beaumont, [[Texas]],<ref>Yahoo People Search.</ref> who served from 1982 to 1989 as the [[mayor]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], the seat of government for Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Byars was recalled  on January 21, 1989, at the midway point of his second term through a citizens' initiative after it was revealed that he had charged the city for personal expenses on his municipal credit card.

==Background==

==Background==

Byars' parents were Noel Randolph Byars (1908–2003), a Minden [[banker]] and a native of Bearden, [[Arkansas]], and the former Thelma Rowland (1909–2002). His paternal grandparents were Benjamin Joab Byars and the former Lucy Jane Chambliss. Byars, who is [[Baptist]], graduated in 1957 from Minden High School.<ref>Minden High School ''Grig'' yearbook, 1957.</ref> He married a Minden High School classmate, the former Cecilia O'Rear (born March 8, 1940).<ref>Net Detective</ref> The couple has three sons and a daughter, Jo Anna, who was a Miss Minden contestant a few months prior to her father's election as mayor.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', March 27, 1982, p. 1.</ref>

Byars' parents were Noel Randolph Byars (1908–2003), a Minden [[banker]] and a native of Bearden, [[Arkansas]], and the former Thelma Rowland (1909–2002). His paternal grandparents were Benjamin Joab Byars and the former Lucy Jane Chambliss. Byars, who is [[Baptist]], graduated in 1957 from Minden High School.<ref>Minden High School ''Grig'' yearbook, 1957.</ref> He married a Minden High School classmate, the former Cecilia O'Rear (born March 8, 1940).<ref>Net Detective</ref> The couple has three sons and a daughter, Jo Anna, who was a Miss Minden contestant a few months prior to her father's election as mayor.<ref>''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', March 27, 1982, p. 1.</ref>

Byars received his bachelor's degree in education and his master's in school administration from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. There he was a national and [[Arkansas]] state champion in archery.<ref>''Minden Herald,'' June 6, 1962.</ref> In 1970, he left a position in [[Bossier City]] as coordinator and regional consultant for the Northwest Louisiana Supplementary Education Center to become the director of data processing in education Region 18 in [[Lubbock]], [[Texas]].<ref>"People's Bank Names [Noel Randolph] Byars Vice-President", ''Minden Press-Herald'', June 13, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Byars indicated that he would work on a doctorate in education through [[Texas Tech University]] while he was living in Lubbock.<ref>"Noel Byars", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 25, 1970, p. 1.</ref>

Byars received his bachelor's degree in education and his master's in school administration from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. There he was a national and [[Arkansas]] state champion in archery.<ref>''Minden Herald,'' June 6, 1962.</ref> In 1970, he left a position in [[Bossier City]] as coordinator and regional consultant for the Northwest Louisiana Supplementary Education Center to become the director of data processing in education Region 18 in [[Lubbock]], [[Texas]].<ref>"People's Bank Names [Noel Randolph] Byars Vice-President", ''Minden Press-Herald'', June 13, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Byars indicated that he would work on a doctorate in education through [[Texas Tech University]] while he was living in Lubbock.<ref>"Noel Byars", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 25, 1970, p. 1.</ref>