APCA is saddened to report the passing of Mark Beard, founder of Beard Oil Distributing and a friend and valued colleague to many in the association and throughout the pipeline industry.
Mr. Beard, 72, of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., passed away on January 31 at his home. He was born on October 27, 1948, in Mt. Pleasant, son of the late Leo M. and Glenna L. (Shuttleworth) Beard. A 1966 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School, he attended Central Michigan University and Northwood College.
From a young age, Mr. Beard worked alongside his father, Leo, at Hub Oil and Beard Oil and Supply. In 1984, he established M & L Petroleum Inc., where he was awarded the fastest-growing business in the state of Michigan. In 2005, Mr. Beard established Beard Oil Distributing among other companies, including his most recent venture, Beard Motorsports. From a young age he loved race cars. He started from building go-karts to realizing his goal of racing late models and Busch Grand Nationals at Daytona. In 2016, he established his own NASCAR Cup Team, running the #75 car, then the #62.
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