Byron Herbert Reece (1917 - 1958)

Born 14 Sep 1917 in Choestoe, Union County, Georgia, United States of America

Died 3 Jun 1958 at age 40 in Young Harris, Towns County, Georgia, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sandy Patak [send private message] and Appalachia Project WikiTree [send private message]

Byron Reece was associated with Appalachia. Join: Appalachia Project Discuss: Appalachia

Biography

Byron Reece is Notable.

Byron was an Appalachian poet and novelist.

Bryon Herbert Reece was born on September 14, 1917 in Choestoe, Union County, Georgia, United States of America, son of Juan Welborn Reece (1880–1960) and Hannah Lous Lance (1886–1954). Reece never married or had children.

Journalist Bill Shipp has called Reece "perhaps the greatest balladeer of the Appalachians."

He received the Georgia Writers Association’s literary achievement award, five times, and he served as poet-in-residence at both Young Harris College and Emory University. The Georgia Writers Hall of Fame inducted Reece in 2001.

He earned two Guggenheim awards, and served as writer-in-residence at the University of California at Los Angeles. He was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in poetry (for Bow Down in Jericho, 1950).

The Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center in Blairsville, Georgia tells the story of Reece's life, and shows Appalachian farming techniques from the early 20th century.

"We all have to participate in some form of marriage...mine has been to farming and writing." Reece used his life as a mountain farmer and writer to craft six volumes of poetry and two novels.

Plagued with illness, Reece took his own life at the age of 40. He was found in his office at Young Harris College, with Mozart playing on the record player and his final set of student papers graded and neatly stacked in his desk drawer.

Georgia State Resolution

A RESOLUTION honoring poet and novelist Byron Herbert Reece by dedicating a portion of U.S. Highway 129 as the "Byron Herbert Reece Memorial Highway"; and for other purposes. ^[1]

Highway Dedication Sign

Byron Herbert Reece Marker Looking north on US Highway 19/129 toward Blairsville

Renowned Appalachian poet, novelist, and farmer, Byron Herbert Reece lived most of his life near this site. Here he composed, to critical acclaim, four volumes of poetry and two novels, Better a Dinner of Herbs and The Hawk and the Sun. Reece was a five-time recipient of the Georgia Writers Association’s literary achievement award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in poetry for Bow Down in Jericho. He served as poet-in-residence at the University of California at Los Angeles, Emory University, and Young Harris College. Suffering from tuberculosis, Reece took his own life three months before his forty-first birthday. He is buried in Old Union Cemetery near Young Harris.

Erected 2006 by Georgia Historical Society, the Byron Herbert Reece Society, Union County Government, Union County Historical Society, and Young Harris College. (Marker Number 144-1.) ^[2]

Bryon Reece Trailhead Parking

"This blue-blazed trail begins in the Byron Herbert Reece Memorial parking area north of Neels Gap on US 19/129. The trail climbs 400 feet from the parking/picnic area to a 3-way intersection just south of Flat Rock Gap. From this intersection, hikers can access the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and continue 1.5 miles to the top of Blood Mountain, which offers spectacular views from its rock faces. Please note that the Byron Herbert Reece Trail is almost completely within the Blood Mountain Wilderness. Visitors should expect few structures, signs or blazes along the trail." ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ HR 295 2005-2006 Regular Session - HR 295 Byron Herbert Reece Memorial Highway; dedicate portion of U. S. Highway 129
2. ↑ Byron Herbert Reece Highway Sign
3. ↑ Byron Herbert Reece Trail, US Forest Service

• Death: "Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919-1998"
  Georgia Health Department, Office of Vital Records; Georgia, USA; Indexes of Vital Records for Georgia: Deaths, 1919-1998; Certificate Number: 16262
  Ancestry Record 5426 #1279125 ($, accessed 23 April 2024)
  Byron H Reece death 3 Jun 1958 (age 40) in Towns, Georgia, USA.
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #17565544 (accessed 23 April 2024)
  Memorial page for Byron Herbert “Hub” Reece (14 Sep 1917-3 Jun 1958), citing Old Union Cemetery, Young Harris, Towns County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Hamlin Endicott (contributor 46520924).

See Also:

• Wikidata: Item Q5004380, en:Wikipedia
• John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship
• Reece Farm and Heritage Center
• Byron Reece Short Biography