MAJOR WILLIAM F. BEARD

 

ROLL OF HONOR QUALIFICATIONS

 

 

 

1969     NRA Collegiate All American – Second Team

1969     National Collegiate Conventional Rifle Champion

1970     NRA Collegiate All American – First Team

1970     National Collegiate Conventional Rifle Champion

1974     NRA Smallbore Rifle Distinguished - Position

1974          NRA Smallbore Rifle Distinguished – Prone

1982          World Shooting Championships – Caracas, Venezuela.  (Silver individual medal 50m English Match

1982     United States Distinguished International Shooter Badge

1983          National 1,000 yard Rifle Team Champion – Camp Perry, Ohio

1984     Olympic Games – Los Angeles, California. (Alternate – Men’s Free Rifle 3x40)

1987     National Champion, 50 Meter English Match

1991     World Cup – Los Angeles. (Gold individual medal, 50 Meter English Match.)

1991     National Champion, 300 Meter English Match

1992     National Champion, 50 Meter English Match

 

 

PROFILE

 

Born 22 June 1948 in Paducah, Kentucky.  Learned to shoot a rifle hunting rabbits and squirrels growing up in Western Kentucky.  First target shooting was earning the Marksmanship Merit Badge at Boy Scout Summer Camp. 

 

Began competitive shooting at age 18 at Murray State University as a freshman ‘walk-on’ rifle team member.  Was a member of Murray State University’s first National Championship Teams of 1968 and 1970.  Was enamored by the opportunities for travel as well as the challenge of competition, shooting against the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Ft. Benning, GA, and other competitions in West Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kansas. 

 

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation and completed Armor Officers Basic Course at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.  For next assignment was attached to 197th Infantry Brigade at Ft. Benning, GA.  Soon transferred to International Rifle Section of USAMU for 2-year tour, which included competitions in Sweden, Germany, and the U.S.S.R.

 

Member of USAR International Rifle Team from 1973 to 1994, competing in Canada, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Venezuela, Japan, and Norway.  Won Individual Silver Medal in the English Match at 1982 World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela.  Won the USA’s final Olympic Quota in Men’s Free Rifle Prone for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

 

Served as OIC for USAR International Rifle Team from 1986-1987.  Retired with 23 years active/reserve service in August 1994.