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Forum Member
 
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Former WIU linebacker Joe Byrne passed away last Wednesday. I believe he still holds a couple of tackle records. I think he played from about 1974 to 1978. Maybe some of our more senior members may have known Joe. He was from Lockport.
He had coached and taught at Bartonville Limestone for the past 31 years. He was a wonderful man and a very good friend and will be truly missed. Good ol' number 59.
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I bumped into Joe Byrne a number of times at WIU. His first wife, was one of my wife's sorority sisters and so that placed us together at a couple of social events. I also had him in a couple of my classes. Definitely a class guy all the way and will be missed. My wife and I went to the Journal Star and looked at the Guest Book. A number of football names from that era popped up including Coach Westen, John Passanetti, and Paul Cesaretti. Was he sick or was this something sudden like a heart attack?
jc
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Forum Member
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[quote]Neckfansince71 (3/7/2010)
I bumped into Joe Byrne a number of times at WIU. His first wife, was one of my wife's sorority sisters and so that placed us together at a couple of social events. I also had him in a couple of my classes. Definitely a class guy all the way and will be missed. My wife and I went to the Journal Star and looked at the Guest Book. A number of football names from that era popped up including Coach Westen, John Passanetti, and Paul Cesaretti. Was he sick or was this something sudden like a heart attack?
[/quote]
It appears to be an accidental shooting while he was cleaning a shotgun. Joe was a big hunter and fisherman.
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I knew Joe from working in the SID depart while at Western. He was a fierce player and even better guy. Had a few conversations with him at Walts's Office during study breaks!
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