William E. Beard

William E. Beard
Vanderbilt Commodores
Position Quarterback
Class Graduate
Career history
College
Personal information
Date of birth July 12, 1873
Place of birth Tennessee
Date of death December 21, 1950 (aged 77)
Place of death Nashville, Tennessee
Career highlights and awards
  • 1st Vanderbilt quarterback to play Tennessee.
  • Dubbed Vanderbilt the Commodores

William Ewing Beard (July 12, 1873 – December 21, 1950) was a college football player, soldier, journalist, war correspondent, naval historian, and long-time officer of the Tennessee Historical Commission and member of the Tennessee Historical Society.[1][2] In 1892 Beard was the first Vanderbilt quarterback to play Tennessee,[3] and in 1897 while working for the Nashville Banner he was the first to dub Vanderbilt the Commodores.[4][5][6] Beard was once editor of the Nashville American, employing former Vandy player Bob Blake.[7] He wrote several books on Nashville.

Early years

Beard was born on July 12, 1873 in Tennessee to Richard Beard, a Confederate captain, and Marie Dromgoole, of Estill Springs, Tennessee.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "William Ewing Beard Papers, Addition" (PDF). Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "William Ewing Beard (Vanderbilt)". Caduceus of Kappa Sigma 20: 425.
  3. ↑ Bill Traughber (November 20, 2013). "Vanderbilt defeated Vols twice in 1892". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Vanderbilt Commodores History". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ Bill Traughber. Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. p. 20.
  6. ↑ "History of SEC School Mascots". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ Bill Traughber (November 23, 2011). "Vandy's gridiron Rhodes Scholars". Retrieved February 5, 2015.

External links