Percy Beard
Encyclopedia
Percy Morris Beard (January 26, 1908 – March 27, 1990) was an American college and international track and field athlete who specialized in the high hurdles event, and won an Olympic
silver medal. Beard later became a nationally prominent college track and field coach at the University of Florida
.
in 1908. He became a world-class hurdler at Alabama Polytechnic Institute
(now Auburn University
) in Auburn, Alabama
, and after graduating from Auburn with a bachelor's degree
in civil engineering
in 1929, the New York Athletic Club. He set a world record
of 14.2 seconds in the 120-yard high hurdles in 1931 and tied the record again in 1934. A seven-time national Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) high hurdles champion, Beard won the silver medal in the 110-meter high hurdles event at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles
, finishing second behind U.S. teammate George Saling
.
, from 1937 to 1964. Under Beard, the Gators won the Southeastern Conference
(SEC) outdoor track and field championship twice and were the runners-up four times. While he was the Gators' head coach, he founded the Florida Relays in 1939, which became one of the country's top collegiate track and field events. He used his Auburn civil engineering background to develop all-weather running track
s, and unveiled the first full-scale all-weather track at the 1959 Florida Relays.
in 1981. The University of Florida honored Beard by naming its track and field facility, Percy Beard Track
, for him in 1978. He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "honorary letter winner" in 1976.
Beard died in Gainesville in 1990; he was 82 years old. He was survived by his wife Sara, and their three sons.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
silver medal. Beard later became a nationally prominent college track and field coach at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
Athletic career
Percy Beard was born in Hardinsburg, KentuckyHardinsburg, Kentucky
Hardinsburg is a city in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,345 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Breckinridge County. By Kentucky state law, it is classified as a fifth class city...
in 1908. He became a world-class hurdler at Alabama Polytechnic Institute
History of Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state.-Origins:...
(now Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
) in Auburn, Alabama
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
, and after graduating from Auburn with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
in 1929, the New York Athletic Club. He set a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 14.2 seconds in the 120-yard high hurdles in 1931 and tied the record again in 1934. A seven-time national Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) high hurdles champion, Beard won the silver medal in the 110-meter high hurdles event at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, finishing second behind U.S. teammate George Saling
George Saling
George J. Saling was an American athlete, winner of 110 m hurdles at the 1932 Summer Olympics.Saling was born in Memphis, Missouri, but the family moved to Corydon, Iowa when George was three months old. He graduated from Corydon High School in 1927 and was the captain of the basketball team...
.
Coaching career
Following his competition running career, Beard later became the Florida Gators track and field head coach at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FloridaGainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, from 1937 to 1964. Under Beard, the Gators won the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) outdoor track and field championship twice and were the runners-up four times. While he was the Gators' head coach, he founded the Florida Relays in 1939, which became one of the country's top collegiate track and field events. He used his Auburn civil engineering background to develop all-weather running track
All-weather running track
An all weather running track is the common term to describe a rubberized artificial running surface for the sport of Track and field athletics. Throughout the history of the sport, there has always been a search for a consistent surface that gave competitors an equal advantage, to test their...
s, and unveiled the first full-scale all-weather track at the 1959 Florida Relays.
Legacy and honors
Beard was a member of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and was elected to the United States National Track and Field Hall of FameNational Track and Field Hall of Fame
The National Track and Field Hall of Fame located within the Armory Foundation at 216 Fort Washington Avenue, between 168th and 169th Streets, in Washington Heights, in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is a museum operated by The Armory Foundation in conjunction with USA Track & Field...
in 1981. The University of Florida honored Beard by naming its track and field facility, Percy Beard Track
James G. Pressly Stadium
The James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track is a 4,500-seat dual-purpose stadium located on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. The stadium is home to the Florida Gators women's soccer team and the men's and women's Florida Gators track and field teams. The facility...
, for him in 1978. He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "honorary letter winner" in 1976.
Beard died in Gainesville in 1990; he was 82 years old. He was survived by his wife Sara, and their three sons.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...
- List of Auburn University people
- List of University of Florida Olympians
- University Athletic AssociationUniversity of Florida Athletic AssociationThe University Athletic Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that is responsible for maintaining the Florida Gators intercollegiate sports program of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida...