Dr. Gary B. Beard

Gary Beard’s 92 years on earth were full of love and life. He was father to four daughters who were his pride and joy: Katherine (Jim) Daniels and Karen (Gary) Truxillo, from his marriage with Jan Kincaid, Tamara (Kerry) Puckett from his marriage with Eileen Bonck, and Kate Beard (Matt Heath) from his marriage with Debra McDonald.

He was grandfather to five, much loved grandchildren: Rhea Thomas, Alison (Michael) Osborne, Jana (Nate) Bumstead, Jordan Meyer and Joseph Meyer. He was fortunate to live long enough to enjoy five great-grandchildren: Donald Thomas, Remmington Thomas, Brooks Bumstead, Duncan Osborne and Alafair Osborne.

Gary was born in 1931 in Trumann, Arkansas to Duela Rhea Beard and Leland Sampson Beard. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Alda Beard Missildine and his half-sister Patricia Beard Anderson.

Gary moved to Leeds, Alabama in the early 1940s. During high school he worked on a dairy farm milking cows and delivering milk in glass bottles before heading to his varsity football practice and school. This sparked his interest in veterinary medicine. He graduated from Leeds High School in 1949 and headed to his school of choice, Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University). He paused his education to serve four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and then returned to Auburn enjoying the benefits of the GI Bill. He graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) from Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1959.

Dr. Beard practiced veterinary medicine and surgery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 1960 until 1992. He bought Perkins Road Veterinary Hospital and later designed and built Goodwood Animal Hospital. He was recognized for establishing the first American Animal Hospital Association certified private practice in Baton Rouge. He helped establish the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and taught as an adjunct faculty member at LSU and Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

He was honored by numerous awards during his 32 years of private veterinary practice including the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinarian of the year (1983), Outstanding Practitioner of the Year in the SE Region of the American Animal Hospital Association (1989) and the American Animal Hospital Association’s Gaines Award for the Outstanding Veterinarian of the year (1991).

He served as an officer in both the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association and the Louisiana State Board of Veterinary Medicine and helped establish the Louisiana Hearing Dog Program. He was a board member of Friends of the Baton Rouge Zoo. He often did educational television programs and fundraising for Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

In addition to being a skilled and compassionate veterinarian, Gary made numerous impacts in the field of veterinary medicine. His leadership and legacy are clearly seen as a founding charter diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Dentistry and a charter member and founding president of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. In 1995 he was awarded the Peter Emily Service Award for his contributions to veterinary dentistry.

In 1992 he returned to Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to accept a position as assistant dean for outreach working in continuing education, public relations and alumni affairs. He retired in 2008, and in 2010 he was honored as a Wilford S. Baily Distinguished Alumni.

Though many will remember Gary as a renowned veterinarian, and a legend at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, his family knew him as a fun-loving father, grand-father and great-grandfather. He was a man of many interests and talents, a bon vivant and a seeker of new experiences. He had a passionate and curious intellect.

He loved both cooking and eating with gusto, favoring dishes by many Louisiana chefs he encountered during the 32 years he lived in Baton Rouge. He prepared a fabulous duck gumbo. Many friends fondly remember his fried turkey gifts during the holidays. He was an avid reader who was always up for sharing a good book and discussion. A wide variety of music was always on his turn table, tape player, CDs or later his Spotify list. He enjoyed being out in nature whether gardening, observing birds, boating or duck hunting with friends and family. He enjoyed time with others talking about most any subject and could strike up a conversation and have a laugh with most anyone. He treasured his many friends whom he stayed in touch with throughout his life.

Earlier in his life Gary was a pilot and enjoyed flying single engine planes. He scuba-dived with friends in the 1970s and collected salt water fish to put in his large aquarium at Goodwood Animal Hospital. He designed and built a home and a veterinary hospital for which he won awards. He was a master gardener, a sports enthusiast, a photographer, and a traveler. Sports cars were a joy throughout his life, especially his Aston Martin DB2. He had many beloved dogs, cats and horses throughout his lifetime.

The last several years of Gary’s life were spent near four generations of family members in Texas who enjoyed his company at family gatherings, barbeques and celebratory events. He is dearly loved by family and friends and will be missed by many. We like to imagine his pathway to heaven has been lined with all the creatures great and small … Gary Beard loved them all.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on:

Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 2pm

At Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home

411 Ranch Road 620 South

Lakeway, Texas 78734

Gary’s remains will be interred in Auburn, Alabama at a later date.

Tax-deductible Memorial Contributions may be directed to:

The Dr. Gary B. Beard Class of 1959 Endowed Scholarship, AuburnGiving.org/GaryBeardMem