Broadcaster and Community Leader Tom Beard Has Passed Away
Article Presented By McDonald’s…
Litter Media’s Mike Smith reflects on the passing of friend and long-time broadcast colleague Tom Beard
I lost a great friend Monday morning, who also happened to be a long-time community leader and radio broadcaster. Tom Beard passed away Monday morning at Grant Hospital following a brief illness. Tom was 76.
Tom retired from LCNB Bank (formerly Citizens National Bank) 10 years ago after 25 years at the bank, where he served as their President and CEO the last 17 years of his banking career.
While one of the Chillicothe area’s community leaders at the bank for a quarter century, Tom might have been best known to thousands of listeners for his 42 years as a radio broadcaster of high schools sports on WKKJ, WBEX, and Litter Media. His style of being able to inject humor in his expert color commentary made him a favorite for a generation of listeners of the SVC and other area sports teams.
Tom’s first few years on the radio actually started in the early to mid 1980’s with Randy Davies on WBEX, covering Bishop Flaget High School basketball. In 1987, he teamed up with me (Mike Smith) on WKKJ for coverage of the Scioto Valley Conference and worked together for a total of 40 years. Tom worked with Marty Banister for a couple of years on WKKJ when I departed for Litter Media after the 2020-21 season.
It is hard to put into words how much joy Tom and I had doing the games over the years while still trying to keep the game story in the forefront of the broadcast for the listeners. Tom was very sharp as to what was happening in the moment of the game, but his home-spun humor in the broadcast might have been some of the most memorable things he did on the broadcasts that listeners always said they loved.
We were able to “get the band back together” one last time on Litter Media Radio in the 2023-24 high school football and basketball season. We were already looking forward to high school sports this Fall, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. But, I am still thankful for our final season together which led us once again to that treasured trip to the OU Convo in the boys district basketball tournament.
After hearing word of Tom’s passing Monday morning, my heart broke at the loss of a great friend. Monday has been an up-and-down day. One moment I would catch myself laughing over the many funny moments we shared, then crying the next moment when I remember my buddy wouldn’t be with me on this side of eternity. But, the good news is, I believe with all my heart that I will see him again in heaven, where there are no more goodbyes.
Tom was honored with the Media Service Award by the Southeast District Athletic Board in 2020 for his decades of serving high school athletes and their families with his dedicated broadcast career. An honor that was well-deserved, and I know was treasured by Tom.
Tom Beard had many, many friends. I’m so blessed to have been one of them.
Tom’s funeral will be Monday, June 24th with calling hours from 1pm-6pm at Open Door Church, 3130 South Bridge Street Chillicothe, followed by the funeral service at 6:30pm. Private burial will take place at the convenience of the family following cremation.
The Chillicothe-Ross Community Foundation has created the Tom Beard Fund for Students. The fund will support charitable causes impacting local students. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Chillicothe-Ross Community Foundation, Tom Beard Fund for Students. Checks may be mailed to 45 E Main St, Chillicothe, Oh 45601. ONLINE GIFTS CAN BE MADE HERE
Tom’s obituary can be found on the Haller Funeral Home website. CLICK HERE
CLICK ON THE PHOTO OF MIKE & TOM TO HEAR THE LITTER MEDIA RADIO BROADCASTS
