Leo Byrd

Leo Wesley Byrd (June 30, 1936 – July 20, 1991) was an NCAA All-American basketball player for Marshall College whose career spanned from 1956–57 to 1958–59. He also won a gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games for Team USA after the squad finished with a 6–0 record. It was the first Pan American Games to be played in the United States as well. At age 12, he was stricken with infantile paralysis (polio), but he eventually recovered to a full, normal life. Playing in the era before the three-point shot, Byrd made 214 field goals and 171 free throws. At the end of the season, Byrd was named a consensus Second Team All-American.

Post-college career Leo Byrd was selected as the 25th overall pick in the 1959 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals. He never ended up playing professionally, however.

Instead, Byrd was named as one of 14 players to represent the United States at the 1959 Pan American Games. This team also contained future Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Jerry West. The 1959 Pan American Games—only the third PanAm Games ever—were played in Chicago. The United States had won the gold medal at both previous Games, and Byrd was on the squad that won its third gold after finishing the tournament 6–0. Byrd played in four of the six contests and scored 10 points (2.5 ppg). He shot 4-for-9 from the field and 2-for-4 from the free throw line. Byrd's competitive playing career effectively ended after his stint with Team USA.