William Ewing Beard (July 12, 1873 – December 21, 1950) was a college football player, soldier, journalist, war correspondent, naval historian, and long-time officer of the Tennessee Historical Commission and member of the Tennessee Historical Society.
[1][2] He wrote several books on Nashville and dubbed Vanderbilt University the Commodores.
Beard was born on July 12, 1873, in Estill Springs, Tennessee, to Richard Beard, a Confederate captain, and Marie Dromgoole, of Estill Springs, Tennessee.
[4] Beard joined the staff of the Nashville American in 1896.
[6][7][8] While at the American, Beard employed former Vandy player Bob Blake.