Bill Byrne Gets His 'Day' in the Sun

The gentle gentleman is a regular attendee, often getting up to speak during the public portion about issues ranging from streetlights that have been out too long, to letting people know about certain programs he has been involved in as of late.

But, on Tuesday, it was Bill Byrne's turn to be spoken to.

At the May 8 meeting, Byrne, 58, was honored by the council and Mayor Tim Dougherty for his service to those with developmental disabilities, with a proclamation declaring Aug. 16 "Bill Byrne Day."

"There's not enough time tonight to tell the public how important Billy is to our community, and how much he has done to help people with disabilities," Dougherty said as Byrne stood beside him. "It is a true honor."

Byrne was diagnosed as a baby with PKU, neonatal phenylketonuria, an amino acid disorder affecting about 1 out of every 10,000 Caucasian babies. While treatable if detected early, left untreated the rare condition can cause mental retardation, seizures, hyperactivity and eczema.

Yet, instead of allowing his condition to become a barrier, Byrne has dedicated much of his life working for the betterment of those who face similar, or more difficult hurdles.

Dougherty, during the proclamation announcement, noted just some of Byrne's accomplishments, including as one of the founding members of a self-advocacy "Unity Club," his campaigning to have words like "retard," "idiot" and "insane" banned from the State constitution and, in the 1990s, he worked with the former Association of Retarded Citizens to become, simply, The Arc. His efforts also were recently recognized during an event in Trenton, where he met Gov. Chris Christie.

Today, Byrne–an employee with –continues his work in Morris County on such efforts as making sure no physical barriers, including things like curb cuts, can hinder those with disabilities, and "he continues to recruit new self-advocates everyday," Dougherty said.

After lengthy applause from the audience, Byrne, usually not at a loss for words, paused before speaking. "Morristown is really an awesome town," he said.

Byrne recalled a recent drive to work when his mother said, "'I want you to stay here in Morristown forever,'" he said.

"Well, Mom, I don't plan on leaving," Byrne said. "People are just really friendly here. It's really an honor to be among the community tonight. I'd just like to say, 'God Bless.'"