UT Tyler School of Medicine Receives $500,000 from Byers Foundation
June 20, 2023
TYLER, Texas (June 20, 2023) – The Byers Family Foundation gave a $500,000 gift to The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine.
Pictured are (l to r): Aliceson Howell, Jim Regester, Brandi Regester, Dr. Kirk Calhoun, Brent Byers, Patrick Willis, Dr. Brigham Willis and Dr. Archie Tucker.
The gift will be used to name a professorship in family medicine, which will significantly aid in the recruitment of nationally recognized faculty.
“I am grateful to the Byers Family Foundation for helping us continue to grow the School of Medicine so we can better address the health care needs of East Texas,” said UT Tyler President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP.
This gift was given in honor of Lewie and Elaine Byers. Lewie served as the executive vice president for both Austin Bank and Texas National Bank in Rusk. He founded New Birmingham Resources, a producer of iron ore, iron ore aggregate and frac sand. His wife, Elaine, worked for the Texas Department of Human Services as services to the aging and disabled program manager.
“We are excited to offer our support to the UT Tyler School of Medicine,” said Brent M Byers, president of the Byers Family Foundation. “We feel attracting dynamic professors to our region, especially in family medicine, is a priority. This school is a game-changer for health care and the economy of East Texas and we are pleased to join with others who have helped to make this a reality.”
The Byers Family Foundation was established in February 2023. The mission of the foundation is to support and promote philanthropic endeavors which provide community access to educational opportunities and health care and benefit human services, art and culture in the East Texas region.
“This gift allows us to find and retain faculty who provide the highest quality of education to our medical students who can then go out and serve the community,” said Dr. Brigham Willis, founding dean of the School of Medicine.