SR 140 — Celebrating the life of Edward Leroy Beard.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23105213D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

140 NE Offered February 16, 2023 Celebrating the life of Edward Leroy Bear––––––––––Beard. T Patrons––Cosgrove, Spruill, DeSteph and Norment R –––––––––– WHEREAS, Edward Leroy Beard, an honorable veteran, accomplished athlete, and beloved member O of the Chesapeake community, whose success in the National Football League made him a local spoDts legend, died on January 15, 2023;

andN Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2023 R O WHEREAS, Edward Leroy Beard, an honorable veteran, accomplished athlete, and beloved member of the Chesapeake community, whose success in the National Football League made him a local sports L legWHEREAS, Edward "Ed" Beard attended Oscar F.

Smith High School in what was then South UL Norfolk in the late 1950s, where he was a standout on the football team and a state champion E heavyweight wrestler despite his school not having a wrestling program;

and a state champion C WHEREAS, Ed Beard went on to attend Staunton Military Academy and then played football for ED two years at the University of Tennessee before joining the semi-professional football team the Wheeling Ironmen;

andandersity Dof Tennessee before joining the semi-professional football team the WHEREAS, Ed Beard was drafted into the United States Army, serving his country with honor and distinction and earning recognition as the Most Outstanding Player on the United States Army football team;

and (NFL) in 1964 and went on to play eight seasons from 1965 to 1972 as a middle linebacker and on S special teams, starting in 53 games and helping the team to National Football Conference - Western R Division titles in 1970, 1971, and 1972;

and 0 WHEREAS, Ed Beard, affectionately known by his teammates as "Biggie" for his ability to playSplay biggerR thanbigWHEREAS, in recognition of his size,exceptional wasplay notablyand the firstrespect specialhe teamsinspired captainamong inhis fellowd teammates, Ed Beard was presented the historyLen ofEshmont Award in 1971 by the NFL;San Francisco 49ers;

an1and WHEREAS, after suffering a career-ending injury in recognitiona ofplayoff hisgame exceptionalagainst playthe andDallas Cowboys, Ed Beard found a calling in coaching, serving for over a decade as a coach in the respectNFL hewith inspiredthe amongSan FraWHEREAS, after his fellow0career teammates,in football, Ed Beard waswent presentedinto the Lenconstruction Eshmontbusiness, Awardstarting inEd 1971Beard byHome Improvements, and he also worked for some time with the SanChesapeake FranciscoSheriff's 49ers;Office and as a bondsman in Chesapeake;

and BeardWHEREAS, foundEd aBeard's callingfootball inlegacy coaching,was servingenshrined for over a decade as a coach in the NFL with thehis San,induction Edinto Francisco 49ers, the NewVirginia OrleansSports Saints,being andnamed thein Detroithis Lions;honor;

and WHEREAS,Oscar afterF. his career in football, Ed Beard went into the construction business, starting Ed Beard Home Improvements, and he also worked for some time with the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office and as a bondsman in Chesapeake;

andSmith WHEREAS,High EdSchool's Beard's football legacyfield, wasBeard-DeLong-Easley enshrinedField, withWHEREAS, hisEd inductionBeard intowas thea Virginiawell-known Sportslover Hall of Famecountry inwestern 2002music and witha Oscartalented F.singer and musician;

Smithhe Highjoined School'sthe footballfamed field,Virginia Beard-DeLong-EasleyRounders Field,with 35his beiWHEREAS,wife, EdBobbie, Beardwho was athe well-knowndaughter loverof one of countrythe westerngroup's musicfounders, Willie Phelps, and aperformed talentedwith singerthe andgroup 36at musician;various local events over many years;

he joined the famed Virginia Rounders with his wife, Bobbie, who was the daughter of one of / 37 the group's founders, Willie Phelps, and performedBobbie; with the group at various local events over many / 38 years;

and 39 WHEREAS, Ed Beard will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife of 55 years, Bobbie;

now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Edward Leroy Beard, a cherished member of the Chesapeake community whose success in the National FootballeroyFootball LeagueLeaRESOLVED bringsFURTHER, greatThat pridethe Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Commonwealth;family of Edward Leroy Beard as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Edward Leroy Beard as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.