Steve Beaird

Age 70

Funeral services for Steve Beaird were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at First United Methodist Church in Teague. David McAdams and the Rev. Jeffrey Craft officiated. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery.

The following served as pallbearers: Don Bockhorn, Brian Kilgore, Ken Quesenberry, Scott McCarthy, Greg Birdsal and John Ward. Honorary bearers were the “Beaird Bowl Boys” and “Golfing Friends.”

Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at Bowers Funeral Home in Teague.

Steve was born July 22, 1952, in Freeport. He went to his heavenly home July 23, 2022, at the age of 70. Steve loved his wife, Meda, for 52 years. His sons, Steven, Mitch and Stewart, were his world along with his grandchildren, Adyson, Casen, Peyton, Kendall, Trooper and Memphis. They lovingly called him PawPaw. He loved them all very much. His family was everything to him. He was also a loyal friend and mentor to many.

The ride of a lifetime began in the summer of 1970 when Steve came to visit friends in the area. A simple trip to the Teague City Pool is where he met Meda, who was the lifeguard. All it took was one gainer and their lives were changed forever. Steve and Meda married Dec. 23, 1972, in Teague. They have lived in numerous places over the years. A few years ago they bought the Tri-County Golf Club and moved back to Teague. This is where they call home.

Steve was a tough athlete and a fierce competitor. Whether it was on the football field, golf course, or just playing games around the dinner table, you could bet he would play at the highest level, giving 100% and having the time of his life.

Steve began his football career at Angleton High School where he graduated with the Class of 1971. He continued his football career at Blinn Junior College in Brenham. During the 1971 and 1972 seasons Steve received all-conference honors. During the 1972 season he led the Buccaneers to the Southwest Junior College Conference title and a trip to the Wool Bowl. While at Blinn he was an all-American and a two-time all-conference running back. Steve’s accomplishments at Blinn led to Division 1 offers. Steve landed at Baylor University in 1973. Steve’s senior year at Baylor was his most successful of his football career. In 1974 Steve rushed for 1,104 yards on 276 carries and scored 16 touchdowns. Steve was the first Baylor Bear to rush more than 1,000 yards in a single season. His accomplishments while playing for the Green and Gold helped earn Baylor their first Southwest Conference title in 50 years. This resulted in Baylor’s first ever invitation to the Cotton Bowl. In 1974, he was recognized as the Texas Sportswriter Amateur Athlete of the Year and awarded by the Houston Post as “Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Southwest Conference.” In 1975, Steve was the seventh round draft pick for the St. Louis Cardinals and the first round draft pick for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Steve chose the Blue Bombers. He spent two seasons playing in the CFL. He was a Rookie of the Year nominee. He was a CFL All-Star and played in the All-Pro Countdown. Steve has continued to receive football honors throughout his life. In 1995 he was inducted into the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame. In 2005 he was inducted into the Blinn College Alumni and Friends Association Hall of Honor and recognized as Person of the Year. In 2019 he was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame.

In 1982, with Steve’s vision and one drilling rig, Beaird Drilling was born. It is a first-generation company built on hard work, courage and dedication that only Steve could give. Today it is a successful and thriving business with more than 16 drilling rigs. This business was designed to be run by Steve and his sons. They will continue his vision with the same dedication and hard work.

Steve loved the game of golf. He loved playing with his family and friends. Twenty years ago, Steve started the Annual Dog Fight Tournament. It is a tournament loved by many, and Steve looked forward to it every year. It was his goal to be here on July 16, 2022, for the annual Dog Fight and it was accomplished.

Steve was a kind, gentle, and generous man. He was unselfish with his time and talents. Steve started a Sunday afternoon tradition in Teague for young boys. It was a flag football game that would come to be known as Beaird Bowl. The boys would line up every Sunday at 2 p.m. to listen to Steve yell “Let’s get ready to rumble.” Steve has always said Grant Teaff was not only his football coach, but he was a life coach. On Sunday afternoons for 16 years Steve was a life coach for those boys. He taught them sportsmanship, kindness and general life lessons. A coach for the Teague Lions told Steve that he helped shape the Lion football program. He said the players were well prepared due to those Sunday afternoon games. On June 12, 2022, those boys returned as grown men to play one last Beaird Bowl for Steve. They gathered around Steve in the front yard and presented him with the Beaird Bowl all time MVP trophy. Steve received many awards and honors throughout his life, but he would tell you that the Beaird Bowl all time MVP was the greatest honor he ever received.

Steve’s toughest opponent came in 2016 with a cancer diagnosis. He faced it with his competitive spirit, humor, courage and grace. In the end victory was Steve’s. He is playing golf with family and friends and some of the greatest golfers of all time. He is playing a golf course beyond our imagination. A course touched by God with no bogeys, no rough, and the greenest of greens. The greatest award of all comes from God. Well done, good and faithful servant. As Steve would say “It’s all good.”

He is survived by his wife, Meda Beaird of Teague; three sons, Steven Beaird and wife Sarah of Teague, Mitch Beaird and fiancé Senia of New Braunfels, and Stewart Beaird and wife Emily of LaVernia; six grandchildren, Adyson Beaird, Casen Beaird, Peyton Beaird, Kendall Beaird, Trooper Beaird and Memphis Beaird; his sister, Vicki Gayle and husband Duke; two brothers-in-law, Randy Stacks and wife Tommie and David Stacks and wife Jan; one sister-in-law, Marda Raley and husband Berry; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Winnie Tielke; one sister, Judy Young; and his father and mother-in-law, Lester and Freddie Stacks.

Memorials can be made to Methodist Children’s Home at 1111 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708 or to First United Methodist Church at PO Box 240, Teague, TX 75860.

Please visit our website at www.bowersfuneralhome.net to sign the memorial guestbook or to leave a message for the family.

Bowers Funeral Home

900 U.S. Hwy 84 West

Teague, Texas 75860

254-739-2511