Malcolm E. Beard

Malcolm E. Beard
Member of the Florida Senate from the 23rd district
In office 1992–1996
Preceded by	Helen Davis
Succeeded by	Tom Lee
Member of the Florida Senate from the 22nd district
In office 1980–1992
Preceded by	Guy Spicola
Succeeded by	Donald C. Sullivan
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 64th district
In office 1978–1980
Preceded by	Ed R. Blackburn Jr.
Succeeded by	John 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.
Died	January 2, 2019(2019-01-02) (aged 99) Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (up to 1985) Republican (1985–2019)
Alma mater	University of Tampa
Occupation	sheriff, police officer

Malcolm Elmore Beard (February 21, 1919 – January 2, 2019) was an American politician from the state of Florida.

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." He served as sheriff until 1978. Beard served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1978 to 1980. 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. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's Malcolm E. Beard Sheriff's Operations Center was named after him in 2013. He died on January 2, 2019, at age 99.