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Submitted: 12/17/21 • Approved: 12/29/21 • Last Updated: 1/1/22 • R1407129-G0-S3
September 3, 1904 - February 22, 1975
Byron was the youngest of three brothers, born just after the turn of the 1900s - parents Nelson "NK" and Allie May Shirley. He was born in Logan county, but in the 1910s, they moved to Franklin County in the Branch area.
Byron in his 20s, was a mechanic, and married Crete Shirley who was from the Charleston, Franklin, AR area. We don't know how they met, but they were together for over 54 years.
Just after Byron married, he aspired to bigger things during the 30s, saving his money. By the 1940s, he owned a Ford dealership, aka "Shirley Motor Company". He sold Ford automobiles to local residents, from his building on at the corner of 3rd and East Walnut Street (aka Hwy 22). He had a full service shop including body work and paint. His brother, Arch, was highly revered as a mechanic and they often worked together.
Byron sold trucks also, and was often asked to do move tough items. The Shirleys are known for "going big or going home". Early on, one of the projects they were asked to do was to move a secret piece of machinery in Fort Smith, from the local train station to a factory conrete floor - it had to be installed before any walls were built. They delivered the mystery item, and the owners decided the location of the secure bolts weren't right, so Byron and his crew were paid to sit there all day while they decided on the new location. The crew was happy to re-install it whereever the factory supervisor deemed. The company was Coca-Cola, building a new plant in the city. Another locally famous item he moved was a 62.5 ton steam locomotive train that was out of service, to the local park for permanent display. The steam train is now only 1 of 2 currently surviving of it's kind, Missouri Pacific locomotive #2522. The trucking company became a business in it's own right, moving oil rigs due to the drilling boom in the region in the late 1950s. In early 1950 he bought property on the edge of town for his trucks, rigs and pipe he used. He also built a shop and office for billing and truck repairs. Judy, his daughter, also mentioned she wrote out many billing invoice while working there during high school, to a company named "Halliburton". The office no longer exists, but the shop is still being used today.
Because Byron met many people, and was well liked, he ventured into yet another business in the 1960s after meeting Winthrop Rockefeller, an Arkansasan business man and future governor. Mr Rockefeller raised registered cattle, and it wasn't long before Byron had cattle on his property.
Byron retired in the 1970s and he had many grandchildren. We all visited him many times a year and he was always fun to be with. He always took us on truck rides on the farm, and asked us questions like "would you like to be a rabbit, or a turtle?" Only he could pet the wild rabbits on the farm.
Contributed on 12/17/21 by billsully060
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Record #: 1407129