LAW OFFICES
                                  MCAFEE & TAFT
                           A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                        10TH FLOOR, TWO LEADERSHIP SQUARE
                               211 NORTH ROBINSON
                       OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73102-7103
                                 (405) 235-9621
                               FAX (405) 235-0439
                            http://www.mcafeetaft.com

                                  April 10, 2002

Mr. Herb Mee, Jr.
The Beard Company
Enterprise Plaza, Suite 320
5600 North May Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

                                        Re:  The Beard Company Deferred Stock
                                                Compensation Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Reference  is made to your  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission today with respect to 312,500 shares
of common stock, $0.001333 par value per share (the "Common Stock") to be issued
pursuant to The Beard Company Deferred Stock Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

     We have examined your corporate records and made such other  investigations
as we deemed appropriate for the purpose of this opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

     1. The  Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is validly  existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Oklahoma.

     2. The issuance of the Common Stock has been duly authorized by appropriate
corporate action on behalf of the Company.

     3. When  issued  pursuant  to the Plan,  the  Common  Stock will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     We hereby  consent to the  inclusion  of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
above mentioned Registration Statement.


                                           Very truly yours,

                                           McAFEE & TAFT A PROFESSIONAL
                                           CORPORATION