Robert J. Beard, Jr.

Robert J. Beard\nMuseum director and bus industry personality.\nRobert J. Beard, native area resident, died on December 9, 2011 at the age of 78 from cancer. Born on August 23, 1933 at Providence Hospital, Washington, D.C., he lived his life in Washington and Prince George’s County, Md., graduating from St. Anselm’s Abby (Priory) High School in 1951 and took a college course at the University of Miami after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1956.\nHe spent almost all of his working life driving interstate motor coaches for Trailways including 3 years with Greyhound Lines, retiring in 1990. He continued within the bus industry driving for Washington Flyer Airport Transportation and then joined the Prince George’s County Paratransit System in 1992, working with them off and on for the next 4 years.\nMr. Beard remained involved with the National Headquarters of the Trailways Transportation System, Fairfax, Va., serving as a consultant, Chair of their Retiree’s Committee, Curator to their Museum and Archives, and a member of both their annual convention staff and research board. In 2011, International Trailways celebrated his 50 years with the Company by naming one of the rooms in their suite of offices in Fairfax, Va., after him. He was appointed to the first editorial advisory staff of BUSride Magazine in 2001 and contributed articles and photos to a total of 5 industry publications. In 1998, he authored a book about his memories and experiences within the bus industry entitled: SQUARE WHEELS ON THE INTERSTATE.\nMr. Beard was a member of the Pacific Bus Museum of California, a lifetime member of the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum (Md.), and was a founding member of the Museum of Bus Transportation, Hershey, Pa. In 2005, he was elected to the Board of Directors of that Museum.\nSurvivors include his wife of 54 years, Frances Faye; daughter Patricia, three sons, Michael, Bobby and Gregory (Veronica), three grandsons, Michael and Joseph Michelizzi, and Nicholas Roberts, and a sister, Margaret Dillon. Donations may be made to the Museum of Bus Transportation, 161 Museum Dr. Hershey PA 17033, to the American Cancer Society, or Hospice of Chesapeake (Mandrin House), 445 Defense Hwy. Annapolis, MD 21401, in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.\n To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert J. Beard, Jr. please visit our Sympathy Store.