Dr. Byron P. Palls

BYRON P. PALLS (November 5, 1936 – September 2, 2015) immigrated to the United States soon after completing his secondary education in Athens, Greece. He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army and spent his tour of duty with the 4th Observation Battery in northern Italy, under NATO.

Upon his return to the United States, he worked his way through school, as the food services supervisor and catering manager of the Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish/French and went on to earn a master’s degree in Spanish/French Literature and earned a doctor of philosophy degree in Spanish Literature with a minor in French Literature from Florida State University.

Over the years, he has taught courses in English, Latin, Modern Greek, Spanish (etymology, language, and literature),  comparative literature, literary theory, and Western Civilization in different institutions of learning; his most recent posts being at the University of Tampa and Berkeley Preparatory School.

He authored Intermediate Greek Reader and Grammar Review, several critical articles on Spanish literature published in Spain, Mexico and the United States. He recently authored Cultural Portraits: A Synoptic Guide 3rd ed. (2014). Throughout his research, he visited 45 countries on 5 continents.

As director of International Studies at Berkeley Preparatory School, he developed and directed study/abroad and educational programs in Argentina, Spain, China, Ecuador, France, Greece, Mexico and Russia. He has been instrumental in the development of a Hellenic Studies program at St. Petersburg College/Tarpon Springs, FL campus.

Among his honors are: membership in the Cum Laude and Sigma Delta Pi honor societies; the prestigious Wershow Award, for his contributions to the field of foreign language education in Florida; and inclusion in several “Who’s Who” publications, i.e., Men of Achievement, International Who’s Who of Intellectuals, Dictionary of International Biography, Who’s Who of Greek Origin in Institutions of Higher Learning in the U.S. and Canada, The Cambridge Registry, Personalities of the South, et al. He is a member of the American Association of University Professors, the North American Shrine, has served as President of the American/International Foundation for Greek Language and Culture, and volunteered regularly for a number of professional, civic and philanthropic organizations. He was a 32nd Degree Mason in Dekalb, IL and a Shriner in Tampa, FL.

Dr. Byron Palls is the epitome of filotimo. To learn more about Dr. Palls and his most recent work, please visit bbcultures.com. Dr. Palls is survived by his wife, Beatrice Palls, his daughter, Anastasia Palls, his stepson, Eric Blackburn, two grandchildren, Alex Peebles and Andrew Byron Palls, and two parents in law, Maurice and Grace Hernandez. He also leaves a brother and sister in law, Niko and Eleni, and two nephews and one niece. Kostas, Michael and Liana, in Athens, Greece. As well as his brothers in law, Steve Hernandez and Maurice Hernandez and several nieces.

A viewing and prayer service will be held at 12:00pm on September 9th, at the Chapel by the Sea, 54 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the AFGLC Dr. Byron Palls Scholarship, 10413 Butia Place, Tampa, FL 33618.