Bio
Percy Beard was one of the first truly great track & field performers in the formative years of the Southern Conference.
Born in the little town of Hardinsburg, Kentucky, he enrolled at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which would soon become known as Auburn University. He was a two-time SoCon champion in the 120-yard high hurdles, achieving All-American honors as a junior.
After graduating in 1929, Beard became affiliated with the world-famous New York Athletic Club. He eventually captured 7 AAU national high hurdles championships. In 1931, he set a world record time of 14.2 seconds in the 120-yd. hurdles. A year later, he was a member of the U.S. team at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and earned a silver medal in the 110-meter high hurdles.
He was named head track & field coach at the University of Florida in 1937 and remained in that position until the mid-1970s. He used his degree in civil engineering to pioneer the design of all-weather tracks, and the University honored him by naming the facility Percy Beard Track in his honor. In 1981, he was elected to the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame. Percy Beard passed away in 1990 at the age of 82.