“He’s like our stepfather,” said Sandra Salmon, the daughter of Joann Murray, who was on site along with her husband Jim Salmon. “His only son died this year in February (at age 72) and he has no grandkids. He stays with my mom and has been with her more than 20 years, so we’re like his kids basically.”
Born prior to World War I, Pierson served in World War II and spent time in England, German and France. He returned to Brownwood in 1946 and went to work for Johnson Motor Lines, the job he held before enlisting in the military.
“He was in the Army Air Force and was in Europe and in Germany when Germany surrendered,” Jim Salmon said.
Pierson is the oldest of seven children, but his six siblings have all passed away. Born in 1914 in Electra, Pierson moved to Brownwood in 1927 when he was 13 years old and went on to play for the high school football team.
After serving in the military, Pierson went on to work for the United States Postal Service.
“He still gardens and cooks, just does about everything but drive,” Sandra Salmon said. “He gave up moving this year, but he’s in great shape.”
Regarding the biggest chances Pierson has seen in his lifetime, the most challenging has been the advances in electronics.
“He can’t get used to all the electronics, my wife has to get them TV going for them,” Jim Salmon said. “He also really doesn’t have a concept of what things cost these days.”
“There’s no computers, cell phones, anything like that,” Sandra Salmon said with a laugh.
* Due to COVID-19 concerns and Pierson’s advanced age, he was not interviewed for the story per request.
