Clayton A. Beardmore

Clayton A. "Bud" Beardmore, a lifetime resident of Severna Park, died peacefully at home on January 20, 2016 after fighting a heroic 23-year battle with Parkinson's Disease Bud was born in Baltimore on October 26, 1939, to the late Clayton and Margaret Beardmore. He is pre-deceased by his brother, David, and his sister, Joan Fairhurst. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 53 years, Phyllis Balzer Beardmore, along with the rest of his loving family: son James, his son Stephen and wife Stephanie, daughter Susie and husband Jim, and his grandson Clayton and seven granddaughters Hunter, Logan, Parker, Reegan, Kori, Lucy, and Liza. Bud attended Annapolis High School where he lettered as the captain of both the football and lacrosse teams. He also excelled in swimming for the Linstead community and was proud of his many medals. At Severn School in 1958, he lettered in both football and lacrosse while achieving all-state honors in both and receiving the "Kelly Award" for outstanding leadership and sportsmanship. Bud continued to amass accomplishments in lacrosse at the University of Maryland, where he achieved three-time All-American honors. He set the school record as a midfielder with 108 career points and was co-captain of the North-South All-Star Game, scoring four goals to lead his team to a victory. While at the University of Maryland, Bud was also an active member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After graduation, he continued playing his beloved game of lacrosse with the University Club, winning the National Club Championship in 1963. Bud taught and coached at Severn School for several years where he achieved a 19-3 record, winning the school its first MSA championship since 1929. In 1967, he continued his coaching career at Hobart College, winning the Laurie Cox Division Championship. The following year he became the head coach at the University of Virginia and in 1969 his team captured the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. In 1970, Bud returned to his beloved alma mater where he achieved a 107-31 win-loss record during his tenure, leading his team to both the 1973 and 1975 NCAA championships. After his first title, Bud was awarded the F. Morris Touchstone Award as the Division I Coach of the Year. The next year, Bud was selected as the head coach for the United States Lacrosse Team for the World Cup in Australia, winning all their games. That same year he was also the coach of the Maryland Arrows of the National Lacrosse League. He later coached the Washington Waves in 1987. Bud was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1980, Severn's Hall of Fame in 1981, Anne Arundel's in 1982, and, most recently, Phi Delta Theta's. He was also a faithful member of Woods Presbyterian Church for 65 years, serving as head usher. After his retirement, Bud continued to help promote the sport he loved by volunteering his time to coach Severn School's Middle School lacrosse team as well as Severna Park High School's team, with his sons, Steve and Jim, by his side. Most of all, Bud loved boating on the Severn River, spending time in Ocean City with his friends and family, watching his grandchildren's sporting events, and listening to Elvis Presley gospel music. Even more, Bud's largest legacy, aside from his family, is the impact he had on hundreds of young men. Along with teaching the finer points of lacrosse, Bud molded these young boys into great men, teaching them to be better teammates, husbands and fathers. Many players over the years learned to live by motto: "BE THE BEST." Friends are invited to a memorial service at Woods Presbyterian Church in Severna Park to celebrate Bud's life on Saturday, January 30th at 2:00, followed by a reception in the Church Hall. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Anne Arundel Community College Foundation designated for the C.A. "Bud" Beardmore Lacrosse Scholarship Fund. Checks can be mailed to 101 College Parkway, Attn: AACC Foundation, Arnold, MD 21012.