The Virginia Clinton Kelley Democratic Women's Club will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Landmark Building, 201 Market St. A wine and cheese get-together will be held at 5:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Elmer Beard, a published author, retired educator, former elected official and lifelong freedom fighter.
Beard has more than 50 years of community service and civic leadership, according to a biography provided by the club. In the 1960s, he helped prepare high school students for desegregation and challenged local businesses to hire black employees. Then he served eight, two-year terms on the Hot Springs City Council, passing municipal legislation and securing funds to build infrastructure throughout the overlooked African-American community. During this time, he was an agent for Metropolitan Life, advising clients on relieving their loved ones from financial burdens after death, it said.
Beard returned to the classroom in 1984, where he and his wife taught secondary school in Pulaski County school districts for the next 15 years until his retirement. After retirement, he continued his passion for teaching at the university level at his Alma Mater, Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, and the National Park College in Hot Springs.
Now he dedicates his time to writing. He self-published his first book, "The Challengers: Untold Stories of African Americans Who Changed the System in One Small Southern Municipality," which was a grant recipient from the Clinton Family Foundation, the Arkansas Humanities Council, the Arkansas Black History Commission and the Oaklawn Scholarship Foundation.
At 81, Beard has just completed his latest masterpiece titled, "Let Reason Roll: Race, Religion & Reflections." The poetry collection takes a poignant look at historical events and pressing issues through the eyes of an octogenarian. Beard is known as the Octo Griot. The "T" is silent, the biography said.
Society on 10/21/2018