Exhibit 99(a)


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection  with The Beard  Company's (the  "Company")  Annual Report on Form
10-K for the period ended  December 31, 2002, as filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  on the date hereof (the  "Report"),  I,  William M. Beard,
Chairman  of the Board and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company,  certify
pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350,  as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

     1.   The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     2.   The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Company.

Date:  April 8, 2003                  By:   WILLIAM M. BEARD
                                            William M. Beard
                                            Chairman of the Board and
                                            Chief Executive Officer