Former Florida Sen. Malcolm Beard Dies At Age 99

CARROLLWOOD, FL -- A legend in Florida politics has died at the age of 99, less than two months before his 100th birthday.

Former Hillsborough County sheriff, state Rep. and state Sen. Malcolm Beard died Thursday.

Born in Moultrie, Georgia, on Feb. 12, 1919, he moved to Sulphur Springs with his family in 1924. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Beard attended the University of Tampa and then joined the Tampa Police Department in the 1940s. He was elected constable of Hillsborough County in 1957, serving in that position until 1964 when he was elected sheriff of Hillsborough County.

He served as sheriff until 1978, the same year he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. In 1979, Beard was elected to the Florida Senate and was president pro tempore of the Senate in 1996 when he retired

In 1985, he switched from the Democratic Party to Republican, helping to seal the Republicans' 30-year foothold along the Interstate 4 corridor.

During his career, he gained a reputation as a soft-spoken Southern gentleman with a tough stance on law-and-order issues.

"I first met Sen. Beard when he was HCSO sheriff and knew him well through our Masonic and Shrine charities," said Brandon attorney Clif Curry. "He was the epitome of a gentleman and, unlike many politicians today, you could depend on what Sen. Beard told you as the truth. One of the last times I saw Sen. Beard was at a small lunch with Sheriffs Beard, Heinrich, Henderson and Gee. What an honor to be with those four great Hillsborough law enforcement icons."

Beard was also an advocate for sound transportation planning. He served for 10 years as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and was instrumental in the establishment of Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida in 1988.

He was the recipient of many awards and honors including the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce's Greater Brandon Community Leadership Award.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office's Malcolm E. Beard Sheriff’s Operations Center was named for him in 2013.

Beard was married to his wife, Mary Ellen, for 70 years. She died on Oct. 21. They had two children, the late Barbara Ellen Mullins and Thomas Beard.

The Beards were members of Lake Magdalene Methodist Church.

Following the announcement of Beard's death, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Motor Unit gathered to escort his body.

Image via Hillsborough Sheriff

From left, Malcolm Beard poses with former sheriff's Cal Henderson and David Gee.

Image via Tampa Natives

A photo from the late 1960s shows Beard standing between Hillsborough County Sheriff's vice detectives Bob Villar and Bobby Hudson.

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