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{{short description|American politician}}
{{More footnotes|date=August 2013}}

{{More footnotes needed|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Robin Jerald Beard Jr.
| name = Robin Jerald Beard Jr.
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| spouse = Catherine Beard
| spouse = Catherine Beard
| alma_mater = [[Vanderbilt University]]
| alma_mater = [[Vanderbilt University]]
|allegiance={{flag|United States}}
|branch={{flag|United States Marine Corps}}
|serviceyears=
|battles=
|rank=Colonel
}}
}}


'''Robin Jerald Beard Jr.''' (August 21, 1939 – June 16, 2007) was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Tennessee's 6th congressional district]], who served from 1973 to 1983.
'''Robin Jerald Beard Jr.''' (August 21, 1939 – June 16, 2007) was an American politician who served as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Tennessee's 6th congressional district]], who served from 1973 to 1983.


==Early life==
==Early life==
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==Political career==
==Political career==
In 1970, Beard was appointed Tennessee personnel commissioner by newly elected Republican [[Governors of Tennessee|Governor]] [[Winfield Dunn]].{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} In 1972, he entered the [[United States Republican Party|GOP]] [[primary election|primary]] for the newly reconfigured 6th Congressional District.<ref name="nashpostobit"/> The district had been significantly redrawn by the [[Tennessee General Assembly|state legislature]], which shifted several Republican-trending portions near Memphis into the Sixth and removed several solidly Democratic areas.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
In 1970, Beard was appointed Tennessee personnel commissioner by newly elected Republican [[Governors of Tennessee|Governor]] [[Winfield Dunn]].{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} In 1972, he entered the [[United States Republican Party|GOP]] [[Partisan primary|primary]] for the newly reconfigured 6th Congressional District.<ref name="nashpostobit"/> The district had been significantly redrawn by the [[Tennessee General Assembly|state legislature]], which shifted several Republican-trending portions near Memphis into the Sixth and removed several solidly Democratic areas.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}


In November, Beard defeated Anderson by twelve percentage points. Beard's victory was not considered an upset, given the considerably more Republican bent of the redrawn district. Beard worked this district well over the next decade, building up a large following in a district where most of the living residents had never been represented by a Republican before. However, conservative Democrats continued to hold most of the district's seats in the state legislature well into the 1980s.
In November, Beard defeated Anderson by twelve percentage points. Beard's victory was not considered an upset, given the considerably more Republican bent of the redrawn district. Beard worked this district well over the next decade, building up a large following in a district where most of the living residents had never been represented by a Republican before. However, conservative Democrats continued to hold most of the district's seats in the state legislature well into the 1980s.
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Proving just how Republican this district had become at the national level, Beard was easily reelected in 1974 with 56.6 percent of the vote even as Republicans across the country were turned out of office due to anger over [[Watergate scandal|Watergate]]. In 1976, Beard faced former Senator [[Ross Bass]], who had represented the 6th from 1955 to 1964. However, Beard turned back this challenge fairly easily, winning by almost 29 points. Despite his name recognition, Bass was unable to overcome the challenge of running in territory that he did not know and that did not know him. Beard took over 74 percent of the vote in 1978, and was unopposed in 1980.
Proving just how Republican this district had become at the national level, Beard was easily reelected in 1974 with 56.6 percent of the vote even as Republicans across the country were turned out of office due to anger over [[Watergate scandal|Watergate]]. In 1976, Beard faced former Senator [[Ross Bass]], who had represented the 6th from 1955 to 1964. However, Beard turned back this challenge fairly easily, winning by almost 29 points. Despite his name recognition, Bass was unable to overcome the challenge of running in territory that he did not know and that did not know him. Beard took over 74 percent of the vote in 1978, and was unopposed in 1980.


Beard did not run for a sixth term in the 1982 elections, opting instead to run for the Republican nomination to oppose freshman Democratic [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Jim Sasser]]. While Beard won the [[primary election|primary]], [[1982 United States Senate election in Tennessee|he lost in a massive 20-point landslide]]. The Republicans would not win another statewide race until 1994, when they captured the governorship and both Senate seats.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
Beard did not run for a sixth term in the 1982 elections, opting instead to run for the Republican nomination to oppose freshman Democratic [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Jim Sasser]]. While Beard won the [[Partisan primary|primary]], [[1982 United States Senate election in Tennessee|he lost in a massive 20-point landslide]]. The Republicans would not win another statewide race until 1994, when they captured the governorship and both Senate seats.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}


Beard was appointed as a [[NATO]] deputy secretary-general in [[Belgium]] from 1984 to 1987, and from 1992 to 1995.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
Beard was appointed as a [[NATO]] deputy secretary-general in [[Belgium]] from 1984 to 1987, and from 1992 to 1995.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}


Beard later ran a [[Washington, D.C.]]-based import-export business and was at one time a resident of [[Alexandria, Virginia]].{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} Beard retired to [[Charleston County, South Carolina]], where he later ran for a seat on the county [[school board]] in 2006 ([[Arthur Ravenel Jr.]], also a former U.S. Representative, ran successfully in the race.){{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
Beard later ran a [[Washington, D.C.]]–based import-export business and was at one time a resident of [[Alexandria, Virginia]].{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} Beard retired to [[Charleston County, South Carolina]], where he later ran for a seat on the county [[school board]] in 2006 ([[Arthur Ravenel Jr.]], also a former U.S. Representative, ran successfully in the race.){{citation needed|date=March 2018}}


==Death==
==Death==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|United States|Virginia}}
{{Portal|Biography|United States|Virginia}}
*{{C-SPAN|robinbeard}}
*{{C-SPAN|1001626}}


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[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Tennessee]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Tennessee]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps colonels]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps colonels]]
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[[Category:Politicians from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Politicians from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Politicians from Alexandria, Virginia]]
[[Category:Politicians from Alexandria, Virginia]]
[[Category:Tennessee Republicans]]
[[Category:South Carolina Republicans]]
[[Category:South Carolina Republicans]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain tumor]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Neurological disease deaths in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]

Latest revision as of 22:54, 7 December 2024

Robin Jerald Beard Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 6th district
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byWilliam R. Anderson
Succeeded byDon Sundquist (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born(1939-08-21)August 21, 1939
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 2007(2007-06-16) (aged 67)
Isle of Palms, South Carolina, U.S.
Cause of deathBrain cancer
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCatherine Beard
Alma materVanderbilt University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
RankColonel

Robin Jerald Beard Jr. (August 21, 1939 – June 16, 2007) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee's 6th congressional district, who served from 1973 to 1983.

Early life

[edit]

Beard was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.[1] He was educated at Montgomery Bell Academy and graduated from Vanderbilt University,[2] where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.[1] He was a former colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.[2]

Political career

[edit]

In 1970, Beard was appointed Tennessee personnel commissioner by newly elected Republican Governor Winfield Dunn.[citation needed] In 1972, he entered the GOP primary for the newly reconfigured 6th Congressional District.[2] The district had been significantly redrawn by the state legislature, which shifted several Republican-trending portions near Memphis into the Sixth and removed several solidly Democratic areas.[citation needed]

In November, Beard defeated Anderson by twelve percentage points. Beard's victory was not considered an upset, given the considerably more Republican bent of the redrawn district. Beard worked this district well over the next decade, building up a large following in a district where most of the living residents had never been represented by a Republican before. However, conservative Democrats continued to hold most of the district's seats in the state legislature well into the 1980s.

Proving just how Republican this district had become at the national level, Beard was easily reelected in 1974 with 56.6 percent of the vote even as Republicans across the country were turned out of office due to anger over Watergate. In 1976, Beard faced former Senator Ross Bass, who had represented the 6th from 1955 to 1964. However, Beard turned back this challenge fairly easily, winning by almost 29 points. Despite his name recognition, Bass was unable to overcome the challenge of running in territory that he did not know and that did not know him. Beard took over 74 percent of the vote in 1978, and was unopposed in 1980.

Beard did not run for a sixth term in the 1982 elections, opting instead to run for the Republican nomination to oppose freshman Democratic Senator Jim Sasser. While Beard won the primary, he lost in a massive 20-point landslide. The Republicans would not win another statewide race until 1994, when they captured the governorship and both Senate seats.[citation needed]

Beard was appointed as a NATO deputy secretary-general in Belgium from 1984 to 1987, and from 1992 to 1995.[citation needed]

Beard later ran a Washington, D.C.–based import-export business and was at one time a resident of Alexandria, Virginia.[citation needed] Beard retired to Charleston County, South Carolina, where he later ran for a seat on the county school board in 2006 (Arthur Ravenel Jr., also a former U.S. Representative, ran successfully in the race.)[citation needed]

Death

[edit]

Beard died from a brain tumor in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.[3][4] His funeral was held at the Huguenot Church in Charleston, South Carolina.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Robin Beard Jr". The Post and Courer. June 19, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2018 – via Legacy.com.
  2. ^ a b c Wood, E. Thomas; Whitehouse, Ken (June 20, 2007). "Remembering Robin Beard". The Nashville Post. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Allison (June 19, 2007). "Former U.S. Rep. Robin Leo Beard Jr. dies at 67". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 12, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Waldo, Tenisha (June 17, 2007). "Former Congressman Beard dies at age 67". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 6th congressional district

1973–1983
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for United States Senator from Tennessee
(Class 1)

1982
Succeeded by