Vanderbilt Commodores | |
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Position | Quarterback |
Class | Graduate |
Personal information | |
Born: | Estill Springs, Tennessee, U.S. | July 12, 1873
Died: | December 21, 1950 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 77)
Career history | |
College |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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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] He wrote several books on Nashville and dubbed Vanderbilt University the Commodores.
Beard was born on July 12, 1873, in Estill Springs, Tennessee, to Richard Beard, a Confederate captain, and Marie Dromgoole, of Estill Springs, Tennessee.[3] He attended Vanderbilt from 1890 to 1893.[2] In 1892 Beard was the first Vanderbilt quarterback to play Tennessee.[4]
Beard joined the staff of the Nashville American in 1896.[2][5] In 1897 he was the first to dub Vanderbilt the Commodores.[6][7][8] While at the American, Beard employed former Vandy player Bob Blake.[9]
Beard became the state news editor of the Banner in 1910, promoted to associated editor in 1933.[3]