Malcolm E. Beard

Malcolm Elmore Beard (February 21, 1919 – January 2, 2019) was an American politician from the state of Florida.

Malcolm E. Beard
Member of the Florida Senate from the 23rd district
In office 1992–1996
Preceded by	Helen Davis[1]
Succeeded by	Tom Lee
Member of the Florida Senate from the 22nd district
In office 1980–1992
Preceded by	Guy Spicola[2]
Succeeded by	Donald C. Sullivan
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 64th district
In office 1978–1980
Preceded by	Ed R. Blackburn Jr.[3]
Succeeded by	John A. Grant Jr.
Personal details
Born	Malcolm Elmore Beard February 21, 1919 Moultrie, Georgia, U.S.
Died	January 2, 2019 (aged 99) Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (up to 1985) Republican (1985–2019)
Alma mater	University of Tampa
Occupation	sheriff, police officer

Biography

Beard was born in 1919 in Moultrie, Georgia. He moved to Florida with his family in 1924, served in the United States Navy during World War II, and attended the University of Tampa. Beard worked for the Tampa Police Department from the 1940s until he was elected sheriff of Hillsborough County in 1964, ousting incumbent sheriff Ed Blackburn in what the Tampa Bay Times would later describe as "a tight, bitterly contested race — the last time Hillsborough County saw a truly competitive race for the office."[4] He served as sheriff until 1978.[5][6] Beard served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1978 to 1980.[7] 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.[8] The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's Malcolm E. Beard Sheriff's Operations Center was named after him in 2013.[9] He died on January 2, 2019, seven weeks before his 100th birthday.[10]

References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20180113095045/http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/Senate18452001.html
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20180113095045/http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/Senate18452001.html
3. https://web.archive.org/web/20180113095046/http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html
4. Joyce, Dennis. "Malcolm Beard, former Hillsborough sheriff and Florida legislator, dead at 99" Tampa Bay Times
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. "The Florida senate handbook" (PDF). Archive.flsebate.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
7. Ward, Robert L. / Florida House of Representatives (2011). "Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County, 1845-2012" (PDF). Retrieved December 11, 2011.
8. "Sen. Beard Switches to Republican Party". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
9. Dan Sullivan. "Building's name honors former Hillsborough Sheriff Malcolm Beard". Tampabay.com. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
10. "Malcolm E. Beard, former Florida lawmaker and sheriff, dies weeks before his 100th birthday". wtsp.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.

External links