Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 6
Gender: Male
Age at election: 48
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 11/27/1920
City: Alvord, IA
County: Lyon County, IA
Country: US
Death
Date: 11/14/1997
City:
County: Sarasota County, FL
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married to Henrietta Blankespoor in 1944;
children: 6, Mrs. Bruce Deckinga, Gaylen, Dave, Herlan, Carl and Gretchen
Number of Children: 6
Background
Religion: Christian Reformed
Military Service: United States Army
Occupation: realtor
Race:
Education:
graduated from Calvin College;
graduate work at Michigan State University in public opinion and propaganda
Biographical Sketch:
Served 4 and a half years in World War II; enlisted in Nov. 1941, released June 1945; nearly two and one half years in 34th Infantry Divison. Owner of Byker Realty Co.; former member, Ottawa County Board of Supervisors; treasurer and secretary, Hudsonville Christian School Board (6 years); chairman Hudsonville City Planning Commission; past president Hudsonville Chamber of Commerce; chairman Ottawa County Youth Home; member of the Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church; Farm Bureau and City Zoning Board of Appeals.
Notable Facts:
Holds Purple Heart and the Silvar Star
Elected ot State Senate to fill a vacancy on Feburary 19, 1968; re-elected at the November 1968 election and in 1970.
Last residence was Hudsonville, MI.
SR 116, Senate Journal, p. 2021, reported that he had died. No date or place of death.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: State Affairs , Veterans' Affairs, Tourist Industry Relations, Colleges and Universities
City of Residence: Hudsonville
County of Residence Ottawa
District Description: Allegan County; township of Prairieville in Barry County; Alamo Township in Kalamazoo County; city of Grandville in Kent County; Ottawa County;
cities of Bangor, Gobies and South Haven
townships of Arlington, Bloomingdale, Columbia, Covert, Geneva and South Haven in Van Buren County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Committees Served On: Education , Energy, State Affairs , Veterans' Affairs
City of Residence: Hudsonville
County of Residence Ottawa
District Description: Allegan County; township of Prairieville in Barry County; Alamo Township in Kalamazoo County; city of Grandville in Kent County; Ottawa County;
cities of Bangor, Gobies and South Haven
townships of Arlington, Bloomingdale, Columbia, Covert, Geneva and South Haven in Van Buren County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12 & Dept of Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid & Dept of Education
City of Residence: Hudsonville
County of Residence Ottawa
District Description: Counties of Allegan, Barry (part), Ottawa and Van Buren.
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Senator Elected to Fill a Vacancy on 2/19/68. Re-elected 1970.
Chair of the Committees on Commerce; Dept of Education; Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid & Dept of Education; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Appropriations
Committees Served On: Appropriations
City of Residence: Hudsonville
County of Residence Ottawa
District Description: Counties of Allegan, Barry (part),
Ottawa and Van Buren.
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Elected Senate to fill a vacancy on Feb. 19, 1968.
Vice Chair of the Committee on Appropriations
Committees Served On: Appropriations
City of Residence: Hudsonville
County of Residence Ottawa
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Elected to the Senate on Febrary 19, 1968 to fill a vacancy and then re-elected on November 1968.
City of Residence: Hudsonville, MI
County of Residence Ottawa
Reason for Leaving Office:
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
Manual 1971-72 p. 180; SSDI; FLDeathIndex 1877-1998; Calvin College archives Gary Byker Collection; Manual 1973 p.187
