Larry Pierce (figure skater)

For other people named Larry Pierce, see Larry Pierce (disambiguation).
Larry Pierce
Personal information
Full name Dallas Larry Pierce
Country represented United States
Born 1937
Died February 15, 1961 (age 24)
near Brussels, Belgium
Former partner Diane Sherbloom
Marilyn Meeker
Former coach Danny Ryan
Former skating club Winter Club of Indianapolis
Former training locations Indianapolis
Cobourg, Ontario
Lake Placid, New York

Dallas "Larry" Pierce (1937 – February 15, 1961) was an American ice dancer. He was the 1961 U.S. national champion with Diane Sherbloom.

Life and career

Born to Dallas and Nellie Pierce, Larry Pierce had an elder sister, Jan, and younger brother, Russell.[1] He attended Indiana University for several years before joining the Marines. He later worked at his family's plumbing business in Indianapolis, Indiana. He wore dark-rimmed glasses, even on the ice, and was known among friends for his sense of humor.

After graduating from high school, he was partnered with Marilyn Meeker by coach Danny Ryan at the Winter Club of Indianapolis.[1] Junior bronze medalists at the 1958 U.S. Championships, they won the junior title at the 1959 U.S. Championships. Meeker/Pierce also trained in Cobourg, Ontario, and Lake Placid, New York during summers.[1] Competing on the senior level, they won the silver medal at the 1960 U.S. Championships and placed fifth at the 1960 World Championships. Meeker broke her ankle in training in December 1960, six weeks before the 1961 U.S. Championships.[2]

Ryan asked Diane Sherbloom, who had not intended to compete that season, to skate with Pierce, and Pierce's parents succeeded in persuading Sherbloom's.[1][3] Sherbloom/Pierce won the gold medal at Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colorado and were named in the U.S. team to the 1961 World Championships. En route to the event, their plane, Sabena Flight 548, crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing all on board. Pierce was 24 at the time of his death.[3]

Results

(with Marilyn Meeker)

Event 1958 1959 1960
World Championships 5th
U.S. Championships 3rd J. 1st J. 2nd
J. = Junior level

(with Diane Sherbloom)

Event 1961
North American Championships 4th
U.S. Championships 1st

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bushman, Patricia Shelley. "Dallas "Larry" Pierce: 1961 U.S. ice dancing champion". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014.
  2. Hersh, Philip (February 12, 2011). "Anniversary recalls disaster of 1961 plane crash that wiped out U.S. figure skating team". Chicago Tribune.
  3. 1 2 Duffy, Bob (December 29, 2000). "Remembering Flight 548: Shattered dreams". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012.


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