102 years of memories,
Centenarian freshman opens door to century past
by Annette Germinario, feature editor

     William Howard Pierson may well be the best interactive history resource available on campus. At two years beyond the century mark, he continues to build on his knowledge and experiences as a NE Campus freshman.
     He is currently taking the Professional and Business Communications class taught by his son, Howard Pierson.
     The younger Pierson proudly reports that dad’s “pulling an A, so far.”
     Born Feb. 5, 1898, in Newark, N.J., Pierson did not leave his home state until 1991 when he became widowed after 50 years of marriage. That year he came to Texas to live with his son and began a new chapter in his life as a world traveler. He has visited about 40 U.S. states (including Hawaii) as well as China and the Caribbean.
     A lifetime of living on the East Coast has given Pierson a lifelong affection for the sea shore and more stories, “I love swimming and smelling the salt air,” he says.
     His first swim in the Atlantic Ocean occurred at age five, his most recent at 95. He remembers taking his mother’s wooden ironing board a few years after that first dip to try surfing.
     “I did this several times. The ironing board would dry out; I would replace the cover, and I don’t think my mother ever knew,” he confessed.
     Recalling a visit to Colorado, he voted for his favorite place on earth, “Pike’s Peak because I feel I’m about as close as I can get to God up there.”
     Pierson’s life experiences span three centuries. At the beginning of his 70-year career as a movie projectionist, he hand cranked silent movie reels on one of the first projectors invented by Thomas Edison.
     He fondly recalls the acting performances of film stars from Fattie Arbuckle, Theta Bara and Rudolph Valentino through Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, the last film he screened in 1974.
     Before movie sound tracks, he heard background music played by live orchestras, pianists or organists. He claims to have provided piano accompaniment to some western films and played between the matinee and evening shows.
     When he could, this member of the New Jersey Local #244 of the IATSE would come down from the projection box to where it was cooler and air circulation was better. The cramped projection box was built for function not comfort.
     The early projectors used carbon lights (the residual of which has been implicated in some lung diseases). The combination of materials used to make and show the films was a potentially volatile mix.
     For safety concerns, theaters were required to have operating permits issued by the fire department, as well as a rubber blanket within reach.
     He admits to only one incident in his career when he “burnt up” about 60 feet of film.
     Pierson’s fresh air quests lent themselves to many stories, like the opening day of New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway.
     That night after work, he hopped into his car outside of the Bloomfield Theater and drove the entire length of the parkway to Atlantic City. When he arrived, he got out of his car, had a cup of coffee, then returned to his car and immediately drove all the way back home.
     “That night there was no one else on the road, and all that fresh air was so wonderful,” he recalls.
     This centenarian’s appreciation for the outdoors extends to the golf course, where Pierson has played for over 90 years. During a golf game last year, Howard Pierson was asked about his father’s handicap.
     “When you’re 101, you can choose whatever handicap you want,” the son explained.
This good will ambassador is something of a local celebrity, recognized as “Bedford Bill” when he led the HEB Independence Day parade as Grand Marshall. But, mostly, he goes by “Pop.” People can easily spot him in his patriotic garb. He’s rarely seen without his stars-and-stripes hat, shirt or tie.
     Pierson still has time in his busy week to volunteer at Restoration Church in its CARE ministry living out his “people need people” philosophy. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he sorts and packages food for the needy in the community.
     “I’ve got to help out the old folks. Anyone under 90 is a rookie,” he said.
     Pierson offers advice to anyone: “Be kind, smile and most of all don’t worry.”
This motto obviously works for him. He is healthy, takes no medications and still has his natural teeth. He also is a proponent of eating what you want, in moderation of course.      He says he eats everything except cheese.
Perhaps a practical joke played on him as a child, by his brother Lester influenced his distaste for that particular food. One day at the deli owned by Pierson’s parents, Lester reached under the counter and pushed aside the black cloth that covered the Limburger cheese to make his brother a treat. Lester removed the filling from a sandwich cookie and replaced it with the Limburger cheese. One taste may have changed Pierson’s relationship with the dairy product for life.
     Pierson is a man who practices what he preaches. His poise and ready smile are a poster for a peaceful, happy life.
     “I don’t understand people that sit around and complain when there is so much to do,” he pronounces.
     He believes that enjoyment of life is a personal choice no matter what your circumstances.
     “Have a smile and be kind, that’s what it’s all about,” he says.