Robert Gruber Beard ’48

Bob Beard died August 4, 1997, after a long battle with leukemia.

A native of Westfield, N.J., Bob joined us from Exeter, where he had captained the football team. His time at Princeton was interrupted by 18 months in the Army Air Force. Bob was an end on the '47 football team for a bit, but went down to the JVs, where he was cocaptain in his senior year with Mitch Brock '50. He majored in history and graduated with honors in June '50. He roomed with Art Savage and was in Cap and Gown.

Bob's first job was with Prentice-Hall in NYC. In 1952 Asheville and the Farmers Federation News beckoned; they needed an editor, business and advertising manager, photographer, and columnist. Bob could and did play any position. After two years he made his best move and married his beloved Betty. They had two children, Barbara Ann and William.

In 1958 Bob moved to the Asheville Citizen-Times, where his career advanced over the years until he retired in 1992 as advertising development director. He was extraordinarily prominent in civic and professional organizations, serving on countless hospital boards and with the United Way, among many others. His very special interest was the Civitan Club, where for many years he was secretary and bulletin editor. He was a past president of the Princeton Club of Western North Carolina. His Packard went 250,000 miles and was the envy of the Blue Ridge Packard Club.

Bob had great devotion to Princeton all his days. To Betty and their children and grandchildren, the class extends its deepest sympathy and shares in their loss.

The Class of 1948