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Lower Merion High
School
Class of 1965
Obituaries (contributions of memorial obituaries for other class members are welcome)
Bernard H. Pierce (Williams)
Born October 18, 1945 - Deceased October 22, 1989
Lower Merion Senior High School, Class of 1965
I first met Bernard Pierce when we were grade school rivals at the Bryn Mawr Olympics Track Meet in sixth grade. He beat me in the 50 Yard Dash and we soon became teammates and friends competing in Football and Track at Ardmore Junior High. Bernard was an incredible natural athlete who excelled in Football and Track through his years at Lower Merion High School. We became close friends and teammates at Lower Merion and ran on several Track Relay teams together. We both earned a lot of medals running on Lower Merion teams together.
I believe that Lower Merion sports have had a great positive influence on racial harmony and understanding amongst a diverse student body. People like Bernard were part of what made the Lower Merion experience special for all of us.
He ran on the Mile Relay team that placed Third in the Indoor Nationals at Madison Square Garden in 1962 earning All American honors as a Freshman. In 1963 he ran on the 1,000 Yard Relay team that placed Second at the Indoor Nationals again earning All American honors. He medaled at the Class A PIAA District and State Championships in the 220 Yard Dash earning All District and All State honors. He earned six (6) letters in Indoor Track and Track.
In football he lettered three years and scored 22 touchdowns as a key player on the teams that won Suburban One Football titles in 1963 and 1964. He was an All Main Line and All Suburban halfback. He earned nine Varsity Letters qualifying for the prestigious 7 Letter Award.
He left our class and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on February 25, 1965.
He was in the Marine Corps for eight years and was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in Viet Nam. He was very proud of his military service and returned to Ardmore to serve as Captain of the Color Guard of the Leon Spencer Reid Post No. 547.
The Color Guard served at his interment at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens.
When he returned home he became active in the Ardmore community serving as President of the Home Association and recognized as an organizer and strong supporter of community activities. He was a Lower Merion Township employee before joining Ryan and Christie Transit. His early Christian education was at Zion Baptist Church in Ardmore and his memorial service was there on October 28, 1989 prior to his military internment at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens.
Bernard was survived by his wife, the former Janette Cooper, mother, Jean Bright, stepmother, Ora R. Pierce, one son, four daughters, two step children, nine grandchildren, six brothers, ten sisters and his grandmother, Bessie Pierce. This brief Obituary is in Bernard.s memory for the gift of what you brought to our class and your service to the United States of America. Your legacy lives through your classmates and family.
Semper Fidelis
David A. Gingras
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