About the Foundation
Albert I. Pierce
|
Glenna V. Pierce
|
Mr. Pierce was born and grew up in southern California and graduated from high school in Los Angeles. He married his high school sweetheart, Glenna Voorhees. He joined the US Army Air Corp in World War II and flew 23 missions over Germany as a B-17 Bomber Pilot with the 486th Bomb Group. Col. Pierce was shot down on November 2, 1944 and became a POW at the infamous Stalag Luft #3 in Sagan Germany. He was liberated in the spring of 1945 by Patton’s armor division after surviving a forced march across Germany during that winter. An account of his remarkable war experiences can be found on the internet at Al Pierce Memorial Website. He left the military after returning home but was recalled during the Korean War. During this period he served as a Nuclear Weapons Officer at Kirtland AFB where he retired in 1963 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. After his military career, he received a Masters degree in Business Administration and went on to a long career with the City of Albuquerque. He served as the Executive Director of the Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments from 1973 until his retirement in 1990. During his tenure with MRCOG, Al was responsible for much of the development of the Montano Bridge and the Paseo del Norte road plans as well as the initial planning of the Double Eagle Airport. Among his many talents he was also an accomplished home builder and cabinet maker. After his retirement, he and his wife Glenna enjoyed traveling and gardening. Mr. Pierce passed away on April 25, 2005 at age 84. He was preceded in death by his wife Glenna who passed away at age 81, on October 13, 2002.
