Career
He wrote several books on Nashville and dubbed Vanderbilt University the Commodores. Beard was born on July 12, 1873 in Estill Springs, Tennessee to Richard Beard, a Confederate captain, and Marie Dromgoole, of Estill Springs, Tennessee. He attended Vanderbilt from 1890 to 1893.In 1892 Beard was the first Vanderbilt quarterback to play Tennessee.
Beard joined the staff of the Nashville American in 1896.
In 1897 he was the first to dub Vanderbilt the Commodores. While at the American, Beard employed former Vandy player Bob Blake.
Beard became the state news editor of the Banner in 1910, promoted to associated editor in 1933.