Governor Brendan Byrne
Governor Brendan Byrne
Governor of New Jersey, 1974-1982
7’ tall bronze
Veterans Courthouse
Essex County, New Jersey
Brendan Thomas Byrne (April 1, 1924 – January 4, 2018) was an American politician, statesman, and prosecutor, serving as the 47th Governor of New Jersey from 1974 to 1982.
A member of the Democratic Party, Byrne started his career as a private attorney and worked in the New Jersey state government starting in 1955 before resuming his legal career after leaving office in 1982.
During his time as Governor, Byrne oversaw the opening of the first gambling casinos in Atlantic City and expanded the oceanside municipality’s economic base, establishing the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate. He also saved a large majority of woodlands and wildlife areas in the state from development.
In the late 1970s, an FBI wiretap recorded local mobsters calling Byrne, “the man who couldn’t be bought,” a reference to his high ethical standards. The public’s response to this propelled his popularity at a time when popular New Jersey politicians were being mired in corruption scandals.
In 2011, Byrne was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame for his service to the state.
See press coverage of the 2013 dedication ceremony: