Exhibit 99

[THE BEARD COMPANY LOGO]

     THE BEARD COMPANY                                     News Release
     Enterprise Plaza, Suite 320
     5600 North May Avenue
     Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112                    Herb Mee, Jr., President
     (405) 842-2333    OTCBB:  BRCO

                                THE BEARD COMPANY
                              REPORTS 2002 RESULTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, April 11, 2003

     Oklahoma City, Oklahoma --- The Beard Company today announced its financial
results for 2002. The Company  reported a net loss of  $4,614,000,  or $2.52 per
share, on revenues of $469,000, compared with a net loss of $2,321,000, or $1.27
per share, on revenues of $602,000 for 2001.

     2002 continuing  operations resulted in a loss of $4,391,000,  or $2.40 per
share, while discontinued  operations produced a net loss of $223,000,  or $0.12
per share.  2001  resulted  in a loss of  $1,453,000,  or $0.79 per share,  from
continuing  operations  and a net loss of  $868,000,  or $0.48 per  share,  from
discontinued operations.

     Herb Mee, Jr.,  President,  stated:  "Losses from continuing  operations in
2002 were severely  impacted by an impairment of $872,000  primarily  related to
the  Company's  investment  in  China  and by an  impairment  in the  amount  of
$1,561,000  as a result of the  requirement  to adopt FASB  Statement  No.  144,
Accounting  for the  Impairment  or Disposal of  Long-Lived  Assets for the 2002
fiscal year."

     "The  Company's  recurring  losses and negative cash flows from  operations
have raised substantial doubt with our independent  auditors about the Company's
ability to continue as a going  concern," Mee continued.  "Although our auditors
have raised a valid  concern,  the Company  remains in  compliance on all of its
debt obligations,  and believes that the funds available on its existing line of
credit, coupled with expected proceeds from the sale of assets, will be adequate
to carry it until the anticipated McElmo Dome settlement of more than $3,900,000
is received.  The distribution of settlement  proceeds will be delayed until all
appeal  periods  have  run.  Although  there is still the  possibility  the U.S.
Supreme  Court could  overturn  the  settlement,  we think this is unlikely  and
continue to believe that the  settlement  will become final in the May-June time
frame at the earliest and the July-August time frame at the latest."

     The Beard Company's  common stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under
the  symbol:  BRCO.  Its  operations  consist  principally  of coal  reclamation
activities,  carbon dioxide (CO2) gas production, the construction of composting
plants in China,  and its e-commerce  activities  related to the  development of
starpay(TM)'s patent-pending payment system for use on the Internet.

<TABLE>
                                                   THE BEARD COMPANY
                                                Statements of Operations
<CAPTION>
                                                  For the Three Months                        For the Year
                                                   Ended December 31,                      Ended December 31,
                                                      (Unaudited)                              (Audited)
                                           ---------------------------------      ------------------------------------
                                                 2002             2001                 2002                  2001
                                           ---------------    --------------      ----------------    ----------------
<S>                                        <C>                <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Revenues...................................      $121,000          $122,000              $469,000            $602,000
Expenses...................................     2,147,000           514,000             3,526,000           1,974,000
                                           ---------------    --------------      ----------------    ----------------

Operating loss............................     (2,026,000)         (392,000)           (3,057,000)         (1,372,000)
Other income (expense)....................     (1,028,000)          (68,000)           (1,365,000)           (154,000)
                                           ---------------    --------------      ----------------    ----------------

Loss before income taxes..................     (3,054,000)         (460,000)           (4,422,000)         (1,526,000)
Income tax benefit........................         31,000            13,000                31,000              73,000
                                           ---------------    --------------      ----------------    ----------------

Loss from continuing operations...........     (3,023,000)         (447,000)           (4,391,000)         (1,453,000)

Loss from discontinued operations.........        (42,000)         (352,000)             (223,000)           (868,000)
                                           ---------------    --------------      ----------------    ----------------

Net loss..................................    ($3,065,000)        ($799,000)          ($4,614,000)        ($2,321,000)
                                           ===============    ==============      ================    ================

Net  loss per average common share outstanding:
     Basic and diluted:
     Loss from continuing operations......         ($1.66)           ($0.24)               ($2.40)             ($0.79)
     Loss from discontinued operations....         ($0.02)           ($0.19)               ($0.12)             ($0.48)
                                           ---------------    --------------      ----------------    ----------------
     Net loss.............................         ($1.68)           ($0.44)               ($2.52)             ($1.27)
                                           ===============    ==============      ================    ================
Weighted average common shares outstanding -
     basic and diluted....................      1,829,000         1,829,000             1,829,000           1,829,000
                                           ===============    ==============      ================    ================
---------------
<FN>
(1)  Loss per  common  share  for 2002 and 2001  were  determined  by  dividing  the net loss  attributable  to  common
     shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the periods.

(2)  Statements regarding future profitability and operations,  including the timing of those activities,  are "forward
     looking  statements"  within the meaning of the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act. The statements involve
     risks that could  significantly  impact The Beard Company.  These risks  include,  but are not limited to, adverse
     general economic  conditions,  unexpected costs or delays or other unexpected  events, as well as risks related to
     the McElmo Dome settlement and other risks discussed in detail in The Beard Company's  filings with the Securities
     and Exchange Commission.
</FN>
</TABLE>



Fax Number (405) 842-9901                                Email: hmeebeardco.com

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