Career
In 1950, Byrne was elected to the Pennsylvania state senate. The following year, he ran for a seat on the Philadelphia City Council. He was reelected to city council in 1955, this time winning one of five at-large seats.
The following year, Byrne resigned his seat when Governor George M. Leader appointed him to a seat on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
In 1963, he was indicted for perjury during a grand jury investigation of city government, but was acquitted. His term on the Turnpike Commission expired in June 1965.
He was still serving until a successor was appointed when he died of a heart attack that August.
