Exhibit (bb)

                                     RENEWAL
                                 PROMISSORY NOTE



$2,625,000.00                                            Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
                                                               February 28, 2002


     For value  received,  the  undersigned,  The  Beard  Company,  an  Oklahoma
corporation  (the "Maker"),  agrees to all of the terms of this  Promissory Note
(this  "Note") and promises to pay to the order of William M. Beard and Lu Beard
as  Trustees  of the  William  M. Beard and Lu Beard  1988  Charitable  Unitrust
(individually and collectively called the "Holder"),  at Enterprise Plaza, Suite
320, 5600 N. May,  Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma 73112, or at such other place as may
be  designated  in writing by the Holder of this Note,  the principal sum of Two
Million Six Hundred  Twenty-Five  Thousand Dollars  ($2,625,000.00)  or, if less
than such amount, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all advances or loans
made by the Holder to the Maker, and all interest  accruing  thereon.  This Note
will be payable as follows:

     Prior to Default the unpaid  principal  balance of this Note will bear
     interest at the variable  rate of ten percent  (10%) (the  "Applicable
     Rate").  Interest  will  commence  to accrue on the  unpaid  principal
     balance of this Note on the date hereof and thereafter until this Note
     is paid in full.  Interest  will be computed for the actual  number of
     days elapsed at a per diem charge based on a year  consisting of three
     hundred  sixty (360) days.  All payments  will be applied first to any
     accrued  interest  on this  Note and the  remainder  to the  principal
     balance of the Note.  The  outstanding  principal  balance plus unpaid
     accrued interest due and payable on September 30, 2003.

     Except as otherwise  defined  herein,  all terms defined in the Letter Loan
Agreement  of even date  herewith  between  the Maker and the Holder  (the "Loan
Agreement") will have the same meanings as therein.  Both principal and interest
owing  pursuant to the terms of this Note are payable in the lawful  currency of
the United States of America and in immediately  available funds. The Holder may
disburse  the  principal  of this Note to the Maker in one or more  advances  or
loans as determined by the Holder in his sole  discretion.  All payments made on
this Note will be applied  to this Note when  received  by the Holder  hereof in
collected  funds. Any sum not paid when due will bear interest at the rate equal
to the Applicable Rate plus five percent (5.0%) and will be paid at the time of,
and as a condition precedent to, the curing of any Event of Default.  During the
existence  of any Event of Default,  the Holder of this Note may apply  payments
received  on any  amount  due  hereunder  or under the  terms of any  instrument
hereafter evidencing or securing said indebtedness as the Holder may determine.

     The Maker agrees that if, and as often as, this Note is placed in the hands
of an attorney for collection or to defend or enforce any of the Holder's rights
hereunder,  the Maker will pay to the Holder all reasonable  attorney's fees and
all expenses incurred by the Holder in connection therewith.

     THIS NOTE IS GIVEN BY THE MAKER AND  ACCEPTED  BY THE HOLDER  PURSUANT TO A
LENDING  TRANSACTION  CONTRACTED,  CONSUMMATED,  AND TO BE PERFORMED IN OKLAHOMA
CITY, OKLAHOMA COUNTY,  OKLAHOMA,  AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED ACCORDING TO
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF  OKLAHOMA.  In the event of any Event of  Default,  the
Holder may  request,  and the Maker  agrees to furnish to the Holder,  agreeable
collateral and such security  agreements as the Maker may reasonably  require to
secure the indebtedness.

     This Note is issued  subject  to the  terms of the Loan  Agreement.  On the
breach of any provision of this Note, or any provision of the Loan  Agreement at
the option of the Holder, the entire unpaid indebtedness  evidenced by this Note
will become due,  payable and  collectible  then or thereafter as the Holder may
elect,  regardless of the date of maturity of this Note.  Notice of the exercise
of such  option is hereby  expressly  waived.  Failure by the Holder to exercise
such option will not  constitute  a waiver of the right to exercise  the same in
the event of any subsequent default.

     The  failure of the Holder to exercise  any of the  remedies or options set
forth in this Note,  or in any  instrument  securing  payment  hereof,  upon the
occurrence  of one or more Events of Default,  shall not  constitute a waiver of
the right to exercise  the same or any other  remedy at any  subsequent  time in
respect to the same or any other Event of Default.  The acceptance by the Holder
of any  payment  which is less than the total of all  amounts due and payable at
the time of such payment shall not  constitute a waiver of the right to exercise
any of the foregoing remedies or options at that time or any subsequent time, or
nullify any prior exercise of such remedy or option, without the express consent
of the Holder.

     Time is of the essence of each obligation of the Maker hereunder.

     The makers, endorsers,  sureties,  guarantors and all other persons who may
become liable for all or any part of this obligation severally waive presentment
for payment,  protest, demand and notice of nonpayment.  Said parties consent to
any extension of time (whether one or more) of payment hereof,  the modification
(whether one or more) of payment hereof,  release or substitution of all or part
of the  security  for the  payment  hereof or  release  of any party  liable for
payment of this  obligation.  Any such  extension or release may be made without
notice  to any  such  party  and  without  discharging  such  party's  liability
hereunder.

     The Maker has the right to prepay this Note in whole or in part at any time
and from time to time without premium or penalty,  but with accrued  interest to
the date of the prepayment on the amount prepaid.

     The Maker waives presentment for payment, protest and notice of nonpayment.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker has executed this instrument effective on the
date first above written.


ATTEST:                                              THE BEARD COMPANY

REBECCA G. WITCHER                                   HERB MEE, JR.
Rebecca G. Witcher, Secretary                        Herb Mee, Jr., President