Percy Beard

Percy Morris Beard (January 26, 1908 – March 27, 1990) was a former American track and field athlete. He was born in Hardinsburg, Kentucky. He was a world-class hurdler with both Auburn University and the New York A.C. He set a world record of 14.2 in the 120-yard high hurdles in 1931 and tied the record in 1934. A seven-time National AAU high hurdles champion, Beard was the silver medalist at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games, finishing second to George Saling. Beard later became an outstanding coach at the University of Florida from 1937 to 1964. He used his civil engineering education in the development of all-weather tracks. He died in Gainesville, Florida.