Ralph Byerly, a 1959 Chadron High Graduate and 1965 graduate of Arizona State University died on April 30th.
Byerly was a very big supporter of Chadron and moved back to Chadron in 1975 and built the Best Western Motel which at the time was the biggest most modern motel in town. Byerly and his wife Linda Ditonto of Chadron opened the Ink Well in downtown Chadron and spent a million dollars building and operating a Hardee’s Restaurant on West 3rd street where Nebraska Bank operates today. During their time running the Hardee’s, over 100 teenagers worked for Linda. The Byerly’s bought several apartments and upgraded them as well.
Ralph was chairman of the City of Chadron’s 100th anniversary and was named the Chadron Record Community Citizen of the Year in 1985.
After leaving Chadron the Byerly’s built a motel in Idaho.
No funeral services have been announced at this time.
