| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1908-01-26)January 26, 1908 Hardinsburg, Kentucky |
| Died | March 27, 1990(1990-03-27) (aged 82) Gainesville, Florida |
| Playing career | |
| 1926–1929 | Alabama Polytechnic Inst. |
| Position | Hurdler |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1937–1964 | University of Florida |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Southeastern Conference (1953, 1956) | |
| Awards | |
| National Track and Field Hall of Fame University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'strack and field | ||
Representing the United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 1932 Los Angeles | 110 metre hurdles |
Percy Morris Beard (January 26, 1908 – March 27, 1990) was an American college and internationaltrack and field athlete who specialized in the high hurdles event, and won anOlympic silver medal. Beard later became a nationally prominent college track and field coach at theUniversity of Florida.
Percy Beard was born inHardinsburg, Kentucky in 1908. He became a world-classhurdler atAlabama Polytechnic Institute (nowAuburn University) inAuburn, Alabama. After graduating from Auburn with a bachelor's degree incivil engineering in 1929, he later competed for theNew York Athletic Club inAmateur Athletic Union (AAU) competition. He set a world record of 14.2 seconds in the120-yard high hurdles in 1931 and tied the record again in 1934. A seven-time national AAU high hurdles champion, Beard won the silver medal in the 110-meter high hurdles event at the1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, finishing second behind U.S. teammateGeorge Saling.[1]
Following his competition running career, Beard later became the head coach of theFlorida Gators track and field at theUniversity of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, serving from 1937 to 1964.[2] Under Beard, the Gators won theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) outdoor track and field championship twice and were the runners-up four times.[2] While he was the Gators' head coach, he founded theFlorida Relays in 1939, which became one of the country's top collegiate track and field events.[3] He used his Auburn civil engineering background to developall-weather running tracks and unveiled the first full-scale all-weather track at the 1959 Florida Relays.[4]
Beard was a member of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame,[4] and was elected to the United StatesNational Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1981.[5] The University of Florida honored Beard by naming its track and field facility,Percy Beard Track,[6] for him in 1978.[7] He was inducted into theUniversity of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "honoraryletter winner" in 1976.[8][9]
Beard died in Gainesville in 1990; he was 82 years old.[10] He was survived by his wife Sara, and their three sons.[10]
