Mayor J. Byron Chapman

Posted: May 15, 2009

J. Byron Chapman was born March 3, 1947 in Logan County, Kentucky.  As a child in rural Kentucky, Byron attended his first five years of education in a one-room schoolhouse and worked on the farm with his grandfather.  After graduation from high school, Byron attended college at Western Kentucky University.  In 1965, Byron wed his high school sweetheart, Freda.

In 1967, Byron went into the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne.  Byron served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 with the 20th Engineering Brigade and received several awards including two Meritorious Performance Awards.

After returning from service in Vietnam, Byron and Freda moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where Byron attended Louisville Technical Institute and graduated with an engineering degree.  Byron worked in several engineering firms including Jeff Boat and Ward Engineering and also taught at Louisville Technical Institute.  In 1978, Byron went into business for himself and today, Chapman Heating & Air Conditioning is listed as the 15th largest HVAC form by Business First.

Byron and Freda have two children and 5 grandchildren.  Both of Byron’s children are involved in the families businesses.  Byron is very family oriented and has “family breakfast” every Sunday with his children and grandchildren.

Byron served as a Middletown City Commissioner for 12 years and is currently on his second term as Mayor of Middletown.  Byron is also on several boards; President of Jefferson County League of Cities, Steering Committee of Floyds Fork Watershed (Floyd’s Fork Land Use Committee), Kentucky League of Cities Legislative Committee, Board Member of the Middletown Inn Historic Preservation Corporation and the Vice-President of Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) Board of Director’s.

As an Aircraft Commander in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Byron also flies missions for the U.S. Coast Guard Homeland Security.  He has received several merit awards from both the Coast Guard and Homeland Security for his ongoing service.