William L. Beard

William L. Beard. July 6, 1941 - March 13, 2024. This flower garden, the centerpiece of the annex to the Grundy County Historical Society Heritage Center outdoor exhibit area, is dedicated to the memory of William "Bill" L. Beard. A member of the Board of Directors from 2014 to his death on March 13, 2024 and who served on the museum staff, chaired the Membership Committee and was a member of the Development and Finance Committees, Bill was a dedicated contributor to the organization., He was a student of history for over 50 years. One of his paternal ancestors owned a wholesale grocery that was housed in the Confederate arsenal in Columbus, Mississippi where gun maker Leech and Rigdon made revolvers, swords and knives. Bill was born in Columbus and thrived in the environment of his youth. He absorbed stories about the Civil War from his maternal grandmother. Her father had been a surgeon during the war., Bill was an established collector and dealer in Civil War artifacts. He favored the Heritage Center with lectures and demonstrations of his collections and donated 6 flint and percussion Kentucky and Tennessee style long guns and 2 shotguns circa 1830 to the Heritage Center that are on public display., Bill is sorely missed but his devotion and contributions are embedded in the heritage of this institution.