Exhibit 32(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")  Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the  period  ended June 30,  2003,  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  and 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.


                                         THE BEARD COMPANY

                                         /s/ William M. Beard
(Date)   August 13, 2003                 ___________________________________
                                         William M. Beard, Chairman of the Board
                                         and Chief Executive Officer