Obituary for Michael Richard Beard
Michael Richard Beard was born in Little Rock, Arkansas June 21, 1950 to Joanne and Richard Beard.
Mike passed away in his home on November 6, 2022 at the age of 72.
He was an athlete and avid sportsman his entire life. He was a multi-year letterman in football, baseball, and basketball at Little Rock Central High School in the late 60’s. Mike was a left-handed pitcher and was awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of Texas 1969-1971. In his three seasons there, opponents batted just .213 against him. His U of T Longhorn teammates are still friends to this day.
Mike was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 1971 MLB Draft and went on to play four seasons (1974-77) at the major-league level with the team. He was head baseball coach of Springdale American Legion 1986-1988, and 1999. In 2014 he was inducted in the University of Texas Hall of Honor.
After baseball, he worked as an account manager for IBM and Merrill Lynch, Senior Vice President of First National Bank of Springdale, President of Arkansas National Bank of Springdale, and President of Springdale Lions Club. He and his business partner, Doy Gillihan, developed and built Moberly Professional Park in Bentonville, Arkansas: tenants included IBM, HP, Microsoft, ATT, EMC, and Cisco.
After Mike retired to Hot Springs Village, he transferred his love of quail hunting, training and field trialing bird dogs to tournament competition skeet and trap shooting at Blue Rock and MVSA gun clubs where he made many good friends. In 2014 he was Senior Two Man Team 12 Gauge World Skeet Champion and in the 2020 World Skeet Championship he was Doubles C Class Champion. He also enjoyed playing golf with new friends on the courses in the Village.
In an interview with Texas Legacy Support Network, Mike said “I’ve had a great life and lived the American Dream. I met my wife of 42 years at IBM.” He is survived by his wife, Sandra Reeves Beard.
Visitation is from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Friday, November 18, 2022 at the Hardwicke Chapel in Clarksville, Arkansas.
A graveside service is 10 a.m., Saturday, November 19, 2022 at West Mt. Zion Cemetery in Hartman, Arkansas with Reverend Amos Pledger officiating. Pallbearers are Wesley Kendrick, Zach Reeves, Landon Reeves, Kenny Brotherton, Jason Porter, and Roy Roberts. Honorary Pallbearer is Mike Reeves.
Mike passed away in his home on November 6, 2022 at the age of 72.
He was an athlete and avid sportsman his entire life. He was a multi-year letterman in football, baseball, and basketball at Little Rock Central High School in the late 60’s. Mike was a left-handed pitcher and was awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of Texas 1969-1971. In his three seasons there, opponents batted just .213 against him. His U of T Longhorn teammates are still friends to this day.
Mike was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 1971 MLB Draft and went on to play four seasons (1974-77) at the major-league level with the team. He was head baseball coach of Springdale American Legion 1986-1988, and 1999. In 2014 he was inducted in the University of Texas Hall of Honor.
After baseball, he worked as an account manager for IBM and Merrill Lynch, Senior Vice President of First National Bank of Springdale, President of Arkansas National Bank of Springdale, and President of Springdale Lions Club. He and his business partner, Doy Gillihan, developed and built Moberly Professional Park in Bentonville, Arkansas: tenants included IBM, HP, Microsoft, ATT, EMC, and Cisco.
After Mike retired to Hot Springs Village, he transferred his love of quail hunting, training and field trialing bird dogs to tournament competition skeet and trap shooting at Blue Rock and MVSA gun clubs where he made many good friends. In 2014 he was Senior Two Man Team 12 Gauge World Skeet Champion and in the 2020 World Skeet Championship he was Doubles C Class Champion. He also enjoyed playing golf with new friends on the courses in the Village.
In an interview with Texas Legacy Support Network, Mike said “I’ve had a great life and lived the American Dream. I met my wife of 42 years at IBM.” He is survived by his wife, Sandra Reeves Beard.
Visitation is from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Friday, November 18, 2022 at the Hardwicke Chapel in Clarksville, Arkansas.
A graveside service is 10 a.m., Saturday, November 19, 2022 at West Mt. Zion Cemetery in Hartman, Arkansas with Reverend Amos Pledger officiating. Pallbearers are Wesley Kendrick, Zach Reeves, Landon Reeves, Kenny Brotherton, Jason Porter, and Roy Roberts. Honorary Pallbearer is Mike Reeves.