Charles "Chick" Curry Pierce, Jr.

Charles “Chick” Curry Pierce, Jr., died of natural causes on July 8, 2020, at age 85. He was born on October 14, 1934, in Dallas, Texas, to Charles and Melverne Rawson Pierce. Chick grew up in Dallas where he graduated from Highland Park High School, playing on the mighty Scots basketball and baseball teams. He graduated from The University of Texas in Austin (BBA) and Wharton Investment Banking School. After completing UT’s ROTC program, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Airforce. While at UT, some of Chick’s proudest accomplishments were managing the Kappa Sig’s championship intramural teams and being awarded the Mickey O’Connor Most Outstanding Member Award and, much later as an alum, the Tau Man of the Year for his lifetime of service to the fraternity. A true Longhorn, he spent many hours of the recent COVID lockdown reliving the major Texas football victories on the Longhorn Network as if they were live.

On March 21, 1970, he married the love of his life, Jane Harrell. They just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Chick cherished their marriage, showing gratitude every day for Jane’s fervent support in his life. The couple was passionately engaged in life; you might have met them out and about at civic events, accompanied them on their many travels, seen them on the dance floor, or sat beside them at HPUMC or in the cheering section at SMU. Together they had two daughters, Carol Pierce Goglia and Catherine Pierce. Chick was a devoted husband and a joyful and caring father.

Chick began his career at Rauscher Pierce & Company, a small regional investment firm, and served the firm through its transformation to Rauscher Pierce Refsnes and Dain Rauscher to RBC. Chick grew up with the firm, starting in the mailroom and finishing as Vice Chairman.

Upon his retirement in 2001, Chick was accorded the honor of ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of his 42 years in the industry. He served as chair of both the Texas Stock and Bond Dealers and Securities Industry Association, South Central District and was inducted into Kappa Beta Phi, securities industry honorary.

Since his retirement, Jane and Chick travelled the world with friends and family and spent many happy summers in Carmel.

Civically, Chick served as board president of Dallas Historical Society, board chair of Easter Seals Foundation, a mentor for SMU’s Cox School of Business students, a reading buddy at Momentous School. He also served on the boards of Dallas Country Club and the administrative board of Highland Park United Methodist Church as well as advisory boards of Dallas Summer Musicals, Baylor Foundation, Dickinson Place and Girls Adventure Trails. Chick was a president of Idlewild Club. Chick became a member of the Salesmanship Club in 1964, attending weekly meetings until last week, including recently with his daughters and granddaughters for the annual Father-Daughter lunch.

Most recently, Chick worked out and ate lunch almost every single day at Dallas Country Club, followed by afternoons playing games with his youngest granddaughter Chloe. Growing up on San Carlos and Beverly, he swam in Turtle Creek before the DCC had a pool. Throughout his life, he spent many joyful days on the golf course and tennis court, dining at Dallas Petroleum Club and fishing at Ferndale Club.

Chick Pierce was the king of small talk. Well-loved by everyone, he was a kind-hearted gentleman whose effortless charm lit up the room. He was tall, dark and handsome, with the most dashing head of hair. His genuine interest in every person he met made them feel empowered and happy. He enthusiastically supported all of his loved ones, especially his grandchildren by “being there” to cheer them on for moments large and small.

He taught us to laugh often and love well, the value of hard work, genuine friendship, integrity, loyalty and unselfishness. He was the best listener. He told the greatest jokes and the most entertaining stories. He was known for his sense of humor, being a great dancer and the #1 fan of his wife, two daughters, son-in-law and four grandchildren. We were all blessed by Chick’s brilliant mind and his gracious love.

In addition to his wife, Jane, daughters, Carol and Catherine, and granddaughter Chloe, Chick is survived by his son-in-law Mark Goglia, grandchildren Cate, Thomas and Michael Goglia; sister Susan Pierce Wilson, brother-in-law Addison Wilson III, nephew Addison Wilson IV, niece Adrienne Pierce Wilson Wagner & David Wagner, and their children Allison, Austin and Wilson; cousin Edwin Pierce and many extended family and friends. In addition to his cherished family, honorary pallbearers include Sam Bradshaw, John Boone, Ben Cervin, Kenton Chickering, Jack Cota, Roy Coffee, Ray Francis,Mark Goglia, Mike Goglia, Jack Hawkins, John Henry, Phil John, Ron Jones, Bill McIntyre, John McStay, Edwin Pierce, Bill Powell, Mac Rowe, Ryland Scott, Peyton Townsend, Robert Verhalen, Ley Waggoner, Addison Wilson III, Addison Wilson IV, and Joe Zimmerman. The family thanks Pancho Martinez, who helped Chick in so many ways, as well as Dr. John Brooks for expert care over many years.

Memorial service will be livestreamed August 18, 2020, 3:30pm at hpumconline.org/funeral. To submit your condolences or favorite memories to be compiled into a book for his family, please "add a memory" below.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Momentous Institute, 106 E. 10th Street, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75206, Highland Park United Methodist Church-Outreach to United to Learn, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, the Jane Harrell and Charles Curry Pierce Scholarship at UT’s McCombs School of Business, 2110 Speedway, Mail Stop B6006, Austin, TX 78712-1270, Center for Brainhealth Discovery Program, 2200 West Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75235, or Dallas Arboretum, 8617 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218. Hyperlinks to their websites are below.

“Death is not extinguishing the light. It’s putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”-Tagore