Pierce, David R. (1935-2014)

PIERCE, TOUSLEY, PEARCE, SPURGIN, SCHROEDER

Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/19/2014 at 13:28:28

David R. Pierce
March 27, 1935 - January 16, 2014

David R. Pierce, 78, of Normal, Illinois, passed away at 11:58 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at the Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.

David was born on March 27, 1935, in Fullerton, California, the son of David Rand and Emma Mae Tousley Pierce. He married Maureen L. Pearce on June 3, 1956, in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Raised in Oklahoma, David graduated from Bethany High School in 1952. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, including one year with the 7th Marines in Korea, he pursued his goal of becoming an educator. Working diligently, he earned an associate's, a bachelor’s, two masters', and a doctoral degree in education and mathematics, completing his Ph.D. at Purdue University. He also received two honorary doctorates. Working primarily in community college education, he held leadership positions in California, Illinois, Iowa, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In time, he served as president of North Iowa Area Community College, president of the Illinois Community College Board, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and president of the American Association of Community Colleges. He also played key leadership roles in the founding of Waubonsee Community College in Illinois and Golden West College in California.

A member of the Normal First United Methodist Church and active in Kiwanis along the way, David also served as the lieutenant governor of the Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District. In addition, he served on the Board of Governors of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, as Chair of a Savings and Loan Board, Vice-chair of Phi Theta Kappa — a community college honor society, and chair of the National Institute for Higher Education Policy in Washington, D.C.

David is survived by his wife; three children, Randy (Peggy) Pierce, Grimes, Iowa, Teri Pierce, Lawrence, Kansas, and Mike (Deb) Pierce, Normal, Illinois; four grandchildren, Jon (Tanya) Pierce, Jennifer (Tom) Spurgin, Andy Pierce, and Rachel Pierce; two step-grandchildren, Will and Joey Schroeder; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one infant son. He will be dearly missed.

A private family graveside service inurnment will take place on Wednesday, officiating. There will be no visitation. The Calvert and Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, is handling the arrangements.

Copyright © 2014, Calvert Funeral Homes, Bloomington, Indiana

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Former NIACC President will be Missed

Former NIACC President, Dr. David Pierce, had a significant impact on community colleges on a local and national level.

Pierce, who served as the NIACC President from 1970-1981, died on January 16, 2014, in Normal, Illinois. In addition to his many years of service at NIACC, he also served as President of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) for almost a decade in the 1990s. News of his death was widely reported in national higher education publications across the country.

Pierce's presidency at AACC was marked by efforts to strengthen ties and collaboration within higher education and beyond. He worked with other associations to increase student aid programs, particularly Pell Grants. He also steered community colleges through two reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act and a consolidation of federal job training programs under the Workforce Investment Act. During Pierce's tenure at AACC, he raised national awareness of the contributions and unique role of community colleges.

The positive impact Pierce had at NIACC is still felt today. "Following David Pierce as the next president of NIACC seemed like a daunting challenge," said Dr. David Buettner, NIACC President from 1981-2001. "David was so well regarded throughout the community. I felt it was not possible to step into his shoes."

But Pierce made it as easy as possible for Buettner. "David gave me a bit of advice that proved to be very wise," Buettner said. "He simply suggested that I not try to be David Pierce, but just to be myself. Upon my arrival, David also left town. For the most part, he disappeared from the life of the College for a decade. I knew it wasn't because he no longer cared. It was just the opposite. He was giving me a clear field to establish myself:'

Buettner described Pierce as a great visionary. "NIACC benefits to this day because of his conceptualization and vision of the institution, both academically as well as physically," Buettner said. "He was the NIACC architect in almost every way."

Dr. Mike Morrison, NIACC President from 2002-2008, said Pierce had the respect of many people on many levels. "David Pierce lit several bright paths for community colleges at the local, state, and national level," he said. "It's appropriate to rightly reflect some of his light back on him. He truly was a great leader, forging a proud past and vital future for community colleges."

In Touch. North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City, Iowa, Spring 2014, 13.

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