University of Nevada Athletics

Track & Field, Basketball (1949-52)
Marv Byars spent four seasons as a member of the track and field team at Nevada from 1949 to 1952, captaining the team in his senior year. He left in possession of three school records, all set during his senior year, marks that stood for many years. Primarily a sprinter, he set school records in the 220 yard dash (21.3 seconds) and the quarter mile (or 440, 49.8 seconds) and as a member of the mile relay team, which he anchored (3:36). In 16 career 440 races, Byars won 13 times. A multi-sport athlete out of Reno High School, Byars also participated in basketball for one season in 1950-51. A lifelong Reno resident, Byars, a civil engineer, owned his own construction company for 30 years. He won several professional engineering awards, including state engineer of the year in 1982 by the Nevada Society of Professional Engineers. He was involved in several community organizations, including the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, the Reno Air Races, the YMCA and the Wolf Club Boosters.