Joseph Reginald Pierson Jr. ’52
Joseph Reginald Pierson Jr. ’52 passed away in Georgetown, Texas, on May 17. He was born December 13, 1929, in New Jersey and graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania. “Reg” then graduated from Dartmouth with a major in geology. At Dartmouth he lettered in varsity track and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi, the Dartmouth Outing Club and two other outdoor organizations. He then attended the graduate school of geology at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, after which he worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. His career as an exploration petroleum geologist included service, mostly in Louisiana and Texas, at Chevron Corp., Champlin Petroleum Co. and Edwin L. Cox Sr. He was cofounder and president of Quanah Petroleum Inc. named in honor of Quanah Parker, a Comanche leader. While at Dartmouth Reg met Barbara Jean Scott of Colby Junior College and they were married in August 1953. Reg and Barbara enjoyed sports together and were avid players of tennis and golf. Reg was an avid hunter as well. Barbara predeceased him in December 1981, and Reg married Carol Nemitz in September 1983. Reg is survived by Carol; daughters Pamela, Stacy and Susan; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brother Kester ’53. His father, Joseph, DMS’25, and three other relatives were also Dartmouth graduates.
