Name: Tommy Byrnes
Family: wife of 20 years: Beautiful Jane, daughter Sara 16, and son Thomas 14.
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Current Town: Memphis, Tennessee
What Years at UGA: 1989-1993
School/Degree: BBA from the Terry College of Business.
Profession: Custom Homebuilder.
Accolades: President of the Memphis Area Homebuilders Association, married to beautiful Jane.
What life lessons did you learn while at UGA? I learned that taking care of the duty that lies nearest will take you a long way in life. If you take care of what you can control, work hard, and be respectful of others along the way, the rest will fall into place.
What professor did you most admire? Loch Johnson. He was my Political Science professor with a large class, but he had such interesting lectures that would keep us on the edge of our seats. I believe he was also responsible for bringing in outside speakers as well. John Holliman from CNN Bagdad was outstanding.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Helping my construction firm develop and succeed over the past 28 years.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? George Bush, 41. He happened to serve as President during my time in Athens, and I admire his firm yet fair approach.
Who are your heroes in real life? My aunts and uncles are my real-life heroes. After my parents passed when I was young, the support they gave me was never-ending. They were there for me during this hard time and I always had people turn to for advice and guidance.
Quote to live by: “Then do not squander time: for that’s the stuff life is made of.” Benjamin Franklin
What is your idea of perfect happiness? My ideal perfect happiness moment is watching the sunrise in the duck blind or experiencing the woods when I wake up in the morning in in a deer stand. The outdoors is the ultimate happiness.
What is your most marked characteristic? My special characteristic is affectionally known as my “Hippy Patty Shakes.” If you know me well, you have seen them. They tend to come out when I am really excited – like when I am watching the Dawgs win!
What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty and dedication. Good friends last a lifetime!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wish I had taken more chances earlier life.
Who are your favorite writers? I like the fast reads: Baldacci, Stuart Woods, Mark Greaney.
Fave social media and who to follow? Not much on the social media. I have the BookFace. I do not use social media a lot, but it does help me stay connected with my out of town friends.