By Jeff Murphy,
April 22, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – The University of Central Missouri and the Warrensburg community
join in a celebration honoring Sen. David Pearce, R-21st District, for his longtime
service to the university, community, and the state of Missouri.
David Pearce Day festivities are planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 29, with
a program conducted by Charles Ambrose, UCM president, at noon in the university’s
Student Recreation and Wellness Center atrium. All members of the community are invited
to join in expressing their appreciation for the contributions Pearce has made, not
only through his service as an elected official, but his years of dedication and commitment
as a local citizen to activities that support UCM, the city of Warrensburg, and Johnson
County, Mo.
“This is an opportunity to say “thank you” to Senator Pearce for his many years of
dedicated public service, not only through is work in the Senate and the House of
Representatives, but as valued member of the local community who has helped make a
difference in the lives of students and many local residents,” Ambrose said.
Pearce noted, “I have a lifelong association with the university and the community.
I’m very grateful,” he said in talking about David Pearce Day. “This means a lot to
me and my family.”
Growing up in rural Warrensburg, Pearce developed strong ties to the community and
UCM at an early age. The son of Clarence and Loneta Pearce, his father taught at the
university and spent most of his 30-plus years as a local educator teaching agriculture
courses at the laboratory high school. David Pearce attended kindergarten at Central
Elementary School at UCM and continued his K-12 education on campus until University
High School closed in 1976. After finishing his junior and senior years at Warrensburg
High School, he attended UCM, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia
with an agricultural journalism degree. While pursuing his education, he also held
a national post as vice president of the Future Farmers of America, which helped to
nurture and develop his leadership skills.
Beginning in 2002, Pearce served three consecutive two-year terms in the Missouri
House of Representatives and one term as a Missouri Senator representing District
31. After re-districting, he represented Senatorial District 21 for four years.
Pearce’s contributions to the city of Warrensburg are numerous, and include 18 years
in local business working for the former First Community Bank, now Equity Bank. His
interest in helping the local business community was demonstrated prior to that through
his service as executive vice president of the Greater Warrensburg Area Chamber of
Commerce for six years. He has engaged in community service as a 25-year member of
the Warrensburg Rotary Club, and has given back to Johnson County youth and residents
as a former 4-H project leader and former chair of Johnson County United Way, which
benefits numerous agencies that serve county residents. Pearce has helped save lives
by actively supporting local blood drives. In fact, he has donated nearly four gallons
of blood to help individuals in need.
Pearce’s close ties to UCM also include two brothers, Mark and Steve (deceased), who
attended the lab school and graduated from the university. His wife, Teresa, also
is a UCM graduate, having earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. David and Teresa
Pearce are the parents of two children, Molly and Andrew. David and Mark Pearce also
established through the UCM Alumni Foundation a scholarship in agriculture honoring
their father and a scholarship in theatre honoring their mother.
Pearce has kept the university abreast of matters that affect higher education and
the local community as a frequent presenter at meetings of UCM’s Board of Governors,
and he has demonstrated his support for the university by attending major events,
often as a guest speaker. He speaks during the annual Politics and Social Justice
Week, in addition to hosting campus and community groups at the capitol and providing
at least one internship per year for a UCM student in his Jefferson City office.
Pearce’s service professionally and as an active citizen were recognized by members
of the Student Government Association at UCM, which honored him with the James C.
Kirkpatrick Excellence in Governance Award, an honor given in memory of a longtime
Missouri Secretary of State who served for 12 years on the university’s governing
board. Pearce has received numerous other honors during in his career, including the
2012 Henry Geyer Award by the Mizzou Alumni Association, Horace Mann Award by the
Missouri National Education Association, and the Gordon Warren Land-Grant Award from
the University of Missouri Extension.
