Background
Pierce, Samuel Riley was born on September 8, 1922 in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, United States. Son of Samuel R. and Hettie E. (Armstrong) Pierce.
Pierce, Samuel Riley was born on September 8, 1922 in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, United States. Son of Samuel R. and Hettie E. (Armstrong) Pierce.
AB with honors, Cornell Univercity, 1947; Juris Doctor, Cornell Univercity, 1949; postgraduate (Ford Foundation fellow), Yale University, 1957-1958; Master of Laws in Taxation, New York University, 1952; Doctor of Laws, New York University, 1972; various other honorary degrees including Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Humane Letters, Doctor of Civil Law, Doctor of Letters.
Assistant district attorney, County New York, 1949-1953;
assistant United State Attorneys, Southern District New York, 1953-1955;
assistant to under secretary, Department Labor, Washington, 1955-1956;
associate counsel, counsel Judicial Subcommittee on Antitrust, United States House Representatives, 1956-1957;
private practice law, 1957-1959, 61-70, 73-81, 89-;
secretary, Housing and Urban Development, 1981-1989;
faculty, New York University School Law, 1958-1970;
guest speaker colleges, universities. Judge, New York Court General Sessions, 1959-1961;
general counsel, head legal division, United States Treasury Department, Washington, 1970-1973. Consultant Fund International Social and Economics Education, 1961-1967.
Chairman impartial disciplinary review board New York City Transit System, 1968-1981. Chairman New York State Minimum Wage Board Hotel Industry, 1961. Member of New York State Banking Board,1961-1970, New York City Board Education, 1961, Administrative Conference United States, 1968-1970, Battery Park City Authority, 1968-1970, New York City Special Commission Inquiry into Energy Failures, 1977.
Member of national advising committee Comptroller of Currency, 1975-1980. Advisory group commissioner Internal Revenue Service, 1974-1976. Member National Wiretapping Commission, 1973-1976.
Director New York 1964-1965 World's Fair Corporation.
Trustee Institute Civil Justice, Mount Holyoke College, 1965-1975, Hampton Institute, Institute International Education, Cornell Univercity, Howard U., 1976-1981. Board directors Tax Foundation United States delegate Conference on Cooperatives, Georgetown, British Guiana, 1956. Member panel symposium Military-Industrial Conference on Atomic Energy, Chicago, 1956.
Fraternal delegate All-African People's Conference, Accra, Ghana, 1958. Member National Defense Executive Reserve, 1957-1970. Member of national Executive Board Boy Scouts American, 1969-1975.
Member New York City United Service Organizations Committee, 1959-1961. Member panel arbitrators American Arbitration Association and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, since 1957. Board of directors Louis T. Wright Memorial Fund, Inc., National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., 1959-1961.
Secretary, director Young Men’s Christian Association Greater New York, 1960-1970. Member New York StateRepublican Campaign Headquarters Staff, 1952, 58. Governor New York Young Republican Club, 1951-1953.
With Army of the United States, 1943-1946. As First lieutenant J.A.G.C. Reserve, 1950-1952. Fellow American College Trial Lawyers.
Member American Bar Association, Association of Bar of City of New York, Cornell Association Class Sections, Telluride Association Alumni, Cornell Univercity Alumni Association New York City (governor), C.I.D. Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Association (governor), New York County Lawyers Association, Institute Judicial Administration, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Phi Omega.
Married Barbara Penn Wright, April 1, 1948. 1 child, Victoria Wright.