William M. Beard

William “Bill” Beard, 82, died April 29, 2011, in Oklahoma City. Bill was a lifelong resident of Oklahoma City having attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary and Classen High School. He graduated from Pembroke Country Day in Kansas City before attending OU where he graduated in 1950. Bill was an Korean War veteran having served in the Army from 1952-1955. Returning to civilian life, Bill graduated from Harvard’s management program in 1956, and shortly thereafter he began overseeing the family business, Beard Oil Company, in 1955. He ran the company until 2011. Bill took the company public in 1973.

Beard Oil Company (later The Beard Company) began in 1921 when Bill’s father, J. G. Beard completed No. 1 Hall oil well in Stephens County, Oklahoma. When Bill was 12, he began working in the oil fields for the fledgling company. At its peak in the late 1970’s, Bill was the CEO and the Company controlled oil and gas properties in more than 21 states

In 1968, Bill started a hazardous waste management company, USPCI, Inc. which was eventually spun off to shareholders in 1984. USPCI was sold in 1987, and the Company subsequently formed Carbonic Reserves (“Carbonics”) and diversified into the dry ice manufacturing and distribution business. Carbonics was sold in October, 1997.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Lu Beard, and daughters Rebecca Beard of Oklahoma City, and Rebel Robertson and husband T. Scott Salmon of Dallas, and sons, Joseph and John Beard, both of Oklahoma City. He was also the proud grandfather of six grandchildren, Madison and Mason Lilly, A. Bennett Beard, and Adele, Corbin and Samantha Burger. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph G. Beard and Emily Ruth McGregor Beard McBee, his sister Emily Jo Beard and brother, John M. Beard.

Services are Tuesday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Special Care and the Presbyterian Health Foundation. Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.