Background
Beard was born in 1919 in Moultrie, Georgia.
politician member of the Florida State Senate
Beard was born in 1919 in Moultrie, Georgia.
He moved to Florida with his family in 1924 and later attended the University of Tampa.
Beard then worked for the Tampa Police Department until he was elected sheriff of Hillsborough County in 1964. He served as sheriff until 1978. Beard served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1978 to 1980.
In 1979, he was elected to the State Senate for the 22nd district, and he served until 1996.
In 1985, he changed districts and parties, sitting for the 23rd district as a Republican. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’ General’ s Office"s Malcolm East. Beard Sheriff’s Operations Center was named after him in 2013.