Lifelong Marshalltown resident and Class of 1998 MHS graduate Rob Beard has been inspiring and uplifting others for decades through his participation in Special Olympics contests, and on Dec. 11, Beard, along with three other athletes and eight volunteers, was inducted into the Special Olympics Iowa Hall of Fame.

Beard, now 48, says he got started in the Special Olympics when he was around eight years old, and it was a great way for him to meet new friends from around the area and all over Iowa. He attended the old Pleasant Hill School on South 12th Street where the AEA is now located, and the frisbee toss was his first Special Olympics sport.

He loves the Special Olympics, he added, because they have helped him connect with friends, build confidence, and of course, compete. Rob’s younger brother Nick, now an art teacher at Lenihan Intermediate School, still recalls fond memories from his youth when Rob went to the state competition at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

“I would see him running, like, a 100-meter dash, and it was kind of like I was the brother of a famous guy. But that still happens because everybody knows Rob. I introduce myself to people as Rob’s brother, and that usually gets me in,” Nick said.

One year, he even got the honor of being the torch bearer at the state Special Olympics, and Nick went up to light the big flame, which he described as “very impactful” experience. Being in the Hall of Fame, Rob said, is hard to believe, but he’s proud that his continued efforts are being recognized.

His favorite activities now are bowling and skiing.

“He’s definitely a motivating figure, and I think that he probably inspires almost everybody he meets,” Nick said.

In closing, Nick encouraged anyone who gets the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Olympics, calling it one of the most fun and positive things a person can ever do.

——

Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.