At the age of eight, Richard Byyny decided to become a competitive swimmer, a decision the would have a profound impact on his life. Byyny, chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder, was inducted into the Long Beach City College Hall of Fame Oct. 1.
The Long Beach native聮s competitive drive pushed him to All-American status in High School and brought him into contact with people who would channel his drive in the right direction. "The mentors that I聮ve had, especially in that early period, were clearly my coaches," said Byyny. "I learned about teamwork and I learned about competition."
Byyny聮s success in both swimming and water polo continued in college, where he lettered in both sports at Long Beach. Byyny would eventually transfer to the University of Southern California, where he finished at the top of his class in Medical School.
"I can honestly say that the start I got at Long Beach City College and subsequently the experiences I聮ve had in education have prepared me well for my current position," Byyny said.
Success followed Byyny in his family life. "One of the things that I聮m most satisfied with and proud of is my family," he said, referring to his 36-year marriage to wife, Jo, and their three children. "They聮re all grown and are very
successful pursuing their endeavors. They聮re all into education."
Byyny was appointed chancellor in 1997 after 20 years of service at the University of Colorado, most of it at the university's Health Sciences Center in Denver. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and is on the American Heart Association Council on High Blood Pressure.
Long Beach City College held a ceremony on Oct. 1 to welcome Byyny and three others into the Hall of Fame.
"This is one of the greatest honors that one can achieve," said Byyny. "It聮s something I will cherish for the rest of my life."