Town of Fuquay-Varina recently issued the following announcement.
Fuquay-Varina Town Hall was renamed the John W. Byrne Municipal Building in a ceremony on Tuesday,
November 23rd that also celebrated Mayor John W. Byrne and his successful 20-year tenure as mayor of
Fuquay-Varina. The official ceremony was attended by family, friends and government officials including
Congressman David Price, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, N.C. Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette
and N.C. Representative Erin Paré.
Mayor Byrne was also presented with the state’s highest honor, the Order of the Longleaf Pine, from the
Office of Governor Roy Cooper. The Order of the Longleaf Pine award is bestowed to persons who have
made significant contributions to the state and their communities through exemplary accomplishments.
Byrne officially retires on December 6, 2021. To date, Byrne is the only Mayor to serve ten consecutive
terms and is the longest serving Mayor in Fuquay-Varina’s history.
During Mayor Byrne’s two decades in office, the Town of Fuquay-Varina saw unprecedented population
growth of 335%.
“It’s been a wonderful journey,” said Mayor Byrne. “I’ve been very fortunate to surround myself with a
great team. We’ve been able to accomplish many of the goals that I set forth through hard work and the
strong support of the citizens of Fuquay-Varina.”
Notable achievements by the Town under Mayor Byrne’s leadership include the construction of Judd
Parkway; significant downtown revitalization including streetscape enhancements as well as the Town’s
inclusion in the North Carolina Main Street Program; the successful completion of numerous capital
projects including the Public Service Center, the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, expansion of the Terrible
Creek Wastewater Treatment facility, the return of Town Hall to downtown and a new Police station.
Quality of life projects were a strong focus during Mayor Byrne’s tenure. The Town of Fuquay-Varina
undertook a $5.5 million renovation of Fleming Loop Park, opened Hilltop Needmore Park & Preserve
with more than 5 miles of walking trails, completed the Park Depot Trail, built a Splash Pad, and
purchased and renovated Fuquay Mineral Spring Park, the location for which the town gets part of its
name.
While Byrne was in office, the Town of Fuquay-Varina received nearly $50 million in transportation and
utility infrastructure grants and completed numerous transportation projects enhancing the Town’s Road
network and improving traffic flow in Fuquay-Varina. His leadership resulted in sound financial policies
ultimately leading to the Town of Fuquay-Varina receiving a Triple A Bond Rating from Standard and
Poor’s.
Throughout his time as mayor, Byrne was known as a champion for Town employees. He advocated for
investing in professional development, competitive wages, and benefits. Equally important, he built strong
community and regional partnerships throughout Wake County and the State of North Carolina.
In 1973, John and his wife, Patty, moved to Fuquay-Varina when he took a job at Fidelity Bank. The
Byrne’s plan to stay in Fuquay-Varina and look forward to continuing their involvement in the community,
as well as traveling.
Original source can be found here.
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