Monie Beard
Moorman (Monie) Beard was born in April of 1931, to Ralph Beard, Sr., and Sue Moorman Beard. A native of Hardinsburg, Monie came to love Bowling Green and attended and graduated from WKU after graduating from Male High School in 1949. He was brought to Western on scholarship for both baseball and basketball, playing under Coach E. A. Diddle. After graduating from WKU in 1953, Monie married Betty Jo Beard, whom he met while attending WKU. Mr. Beard served his country with distinction in the United States Army, before returning home to make waves in his home community. Monie played various community leadership roles throughout his life: deacon, elder, and devout member of the Presbyterian Church; esteemed member of the Warren County community; president of Gaddie Shamrock, Inc.; vice president of Cumberland Concrete Pipe; director of the First National Bank in Columbia; past president of Kentucky Highway Contractors Association; past president of Plantmix Industry; past president of Bowling Green East Little League; past president of Potter-Gray Elementary School P.T.A; board member for Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Youth Football League and Bowling Green Boys Club; lifelong benefactor to all Bowling Green High School athletics; and radio co-announcer for Bowling Green High School sporting events.
A lover of sports, he contributed countless hours of energy and time into the sporting events of Bowling Green High School and thus became known as “The Voice of the Purples”—both a literal name for his work as announcer and a metaphoric title for his “Purple Pride.” An example of his generosity is his donation of turf cleats for the starters on the football team after the Purples took the state tournament title in 1995. To recognize all of his contributions, Bowling Green High School’s football field in E.L. Donaldson Stadium is named after him.
After a long battle with leukemia, Mr. Beard passed away at the age of 68 in December of 1999. The Monie Beard Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the Beard Family in May of 2008 to honor the legacy of Monie Beard, and the Bowling Green High School Quarterback Club has sponsored the award for 12 years. An encourager of students, a champion of education and hard work, and a strong community leader, Monie Beard impacted lives across the Commonwealth. Through the fund in his name, that legacy is able to continue.