Percy Beard
| Sport(s) | Track and field |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
January 26, 1908 Hardinsburg, Kentucky |
| Died | March 27, 1990 (aged 82) Gainesville, Florida |
| Playing career | |
| 1926–1929 | Alabama Polytechnic Inst. |
| Position(s) | Hurdler |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1937–1964 | University of Florida |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Southeastern Conference (1953, 1956) | |
| Awards | |
|
National Track and Field Hall of Fame University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame |
|
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's track and field | ||
Representing the  United States
|
||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1932 Los Angeles | 110 metre hurdles |
Percy Morris Beard (January 26, 1908 – March 27, 1990) was an American college and international track and field athlete who specialized in the high hurdles event, and won an Olympic silver medal. Beard later became a nationally prominent college track and field coach at the University of Florida.
Percy Beard was born in Hardinsburg, Kentucky in 1908. He became a world-class hurdler at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in Auburn, Alabama. After graduating from Auburn with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1929, he later competed for the New York Athletic Club in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competition. He set a world record of 14.2 seconds in the 120-yard high hurdles in 1931 and tied the record again in 1934. A seven-time national AAU high hurdles champion, Beard won the silver medal in the 110-meter high hurdles event at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, finishing second behind U.S. teammate George Saling.
Following his competition running career, Beard later became the head coach of the Florida Gators track and field of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, serving from 1937 to 1964. Under Beard, the Gators won the Southeastern Conference (SEC) outdoor track and field championship twice and were the runners-up four times. While he was the Gators' head coach, he founded the Florida Relays in 1939, which became one of the country's top collegiate track and field events. He used his Auburn civil engineering background to develop all-weather running tracks, and unveiled the first full-scale all-weather track at the 1959 Florida Relays.
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