901 491-1961 for APPT. ESTATE; L.D. BEARD / NY YANKEES & OLE MISS LEGEND JAKE GIBBS BASEBALL COLL...

This is the estate of the promenient L.D. Beard, a pioneer in medical implants.  Mr. Beard retired from Richards (now known as Smith & Nephew Orthapedics) in 1983 after becoming CEO of the company. Following Richards, he partnered with an orthopedic surgeon in Indianapolis along with two Indiana businessmen to start a company named Biotechnology, Inc. L. D. assumed the role of CEO of Biotechnology, Inc. By 1987 Biotechnology had partnered with a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon in Mexico City to begin producing one of the early implant systems to provide for fixation of vertebrae in spinal disorders to help with healing and pain for patients with a variety of vertebral disorders. Biotechnology had also merged with a local Memphis company, Danek, Inc., founded by another alumnus of Richards Manufacturing. In 1991 the company, then known as Danek Group, Inc., went public with a listing on the NASDAQ exchange. In 1993, Danek Group merged with another leading spinal medical device company in France, Sofamor, S.A., and they formed Sofamor Danek Group, Inc. The company subsequently listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1993. In 1993 L. D. retired from active management with Sofamor Danek, but remained on the Board of Directors until the company's sale to Medtronic, Inc. closed in 1999. That company is now known as Medtronic Spine. After retiring, L. D. served on the boards of directors for several small companies in Memphis in the medical device business or in other areas related to serving medicine, freely sharing his experience and advice.

The sale includes the personal collection of Jerry Dean "Jake" Gibbs (born November 7, 1938) is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the New York Yankees as a platoon catcher from 1962 to 1971.  Gibbs began his career as a successful college baseball and football player at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss Rebels).  He later returned to Ole Miss to coach the baseball and football teams. 

At Ole Miss, Gibbs led the Rebels to their first SEC baseball championship, in 1959. Gibbs signed with the New York Yankees in 1961, receiving a $100,000 signing bonus as a third baseman and shortstop. Gibbs was the starting catcher for New York in 1967 and 1968.  Gibbs played quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels football team. During his senior year, Gibbs led the football team to a 10–0–1 record and winning the 1961 Sugar Bowl.  The Rebels were recognized as national champions by the Football Writers Association of America.  Gibbs was named to the 1960 College Football All-America Team. That year, he was also named SEC Player of the Year. Gibbs decided to play professional baseball despite being drafted by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League and Cleveland Browns of the National Football League in 1961.

Gibbs returned to Ole Miss full-time as a baseball coach and football recruiter in 1971.  In 1972, he coached the Ole Miss baseball team to the SEC championship. The team set an SEC record for consecutive conference wins, and went to Omaha for the 1972 College World Series and Gibbs was named coach of the year. Gibbs was named coach of the year again in 1977. Gibbs retired in 1990 with 485 wins, more than any coach in Ole Miss history at the time. In 1995, Gibbs was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.