Exhibit 32.1


                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 March 31, 2004, 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:  September 10, 2004             By: WILLIAM M. BEARD
                                          William M. Beard
                                          Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer