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 byHelen Davis[1]
Succeeded byTom Lee
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 22nd district
In office
1980–1992
Preceded byGuy Spicola[2]
Succeeded byDonald C. Sullivan
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 64th district
In office
1978–1980
Preceded byEd R. Blackburn Jr.[3]
Succeeded byJohn A. Grant Jr.
Sheriff of Hillsborough County
In office
1964–1978
Personal details
Born
Malcolm Elmore Beard

(1919-02-21)February 21, 1919
Moultrie, Georgia, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 2019(2019-01-02) (aged 99)
Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (up to 1985)
Republican (1985–2019)
Alma materUniversity of Tampa
Occupationsheriff, police officer

Biography

Beard was born on February 21, 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, one month before his 100th birthday.[10]

References
  1. "Florida Senators". www.uflib.ufl.edu. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. "Florida Senators". www.uflib.ufl.edu. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  3. "House of Representatives". www.uflib.ufl.edu. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  4. Joyce, Dennis. "Malcolm Beard, former Hillsborough sheriff and Florida legislator, dead at 99" Tampa Bay Times
  5. "Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office - 13-477". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  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. January 3, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.


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