BHS Day 10: Samuel Riley Pierce, Jr.

Hi! For today's Spotlight, I chose somebody who might be considered to be a little controversial on the topic of Black accomplishments in the world. His career ended in scandal with many arguing that he did not help the Black community, but because he still accomplished so many firsts in his career I thought it would be remiss of me not to mention any of it. 

Name: Samuel Riley Pierce, Jr., 1922-2000

Profession: Army veteran, lawyer, judge and former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary

Why is the Spotlight on him today? For breaking barriers within the Army and legal industry

Notables and accomplishments:
--Served under three Republican presidents throughout his career
--Was the first African-American member of a Fortune 500 board
--Served in the Army and was the only African-American in the Criminal Investigation Division of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations during World War II
--Founded the Freedom National Bank, the first state commercial bank in New York with a majority of the bank's officers being African-American
--Was the first African-Americans to argue a case before the Supreme Court
--Was the first African-American to serve as general counsel to the US Treasury department
--Graduated Phi Beta Kappa
--Was the only cabinet secretary who served during all eight years of the Reagan Administration
--Was the assistant to the Under Secretary of Labor in the Eisenhower Administration
--Was the only African-American in the Reagan Administration
--Quietly lobbied for an extension to the Voting Rights Act when it was up for renewal 
--Defended Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders during the New York Times Company v Sullivan court case
--Was the first African-American in New York to make partner of a prominent law firm
--Was appointed Secretary of the HUD department, an agency with over 15,000 employees, by former President Reagan
--Was investigated following evidence that showed corruption within HUD, including financial mismanagement with housing subsidies, and caused his career to end in scandal

Research resources and further reading links: People Magazine Archive | BlackPast | New York Times

Quote of the Day: 
"I don't feel lonely because I'm the only Black. I've been in that role too many times."
--Samuel Riley Pierce, Jr.