Robert Layne Pierce, businessman and former state chairman of the Republican Party, was born in Durand, Wisconsin on May 2, 1901. In 1911 he moved with his parents to Menomonie, Wisconsin where he completed his high school education. After a year of study at the University of Wisconsin he entered the School of Business at Northwestern University and graduated in 1922.
Pierce was engaged in business and agriculture in the Menomonie area for all of his adult life, most notably as president of the Wisconsin Milling Company. He was also president of Wisco Frozen Foods, Red Cedar Investments, and the Pierce Corporation. In addition, his civic involvements were numerous. He served as chairman of the board of the Bank of Menomonie and as president of the local board of education for 18 years. From 1939 until his death he was vitally concerned with the interests of the Stout Institute (eventually the University of Wisconsin-Stout), serving as a member of the board which guided the institution. After the institute became part of the university system he served as a member of the Board of Regents of the State Universities. In 1960 the school's library was named in his honor. In addition, Pierce was a member and president of the board of City-County Memorial Hospital, a member of the board for Circus World Museum at Baraboo, and a member of the Board of Curators for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Pierce's interest and participation in Republican politics dates to the 1922 national convention which he attended as a page. In 1933 he became chairman of the Dunn County Republican organization, in which position he continued through 1948. He was also chairman of the Ninth Congressional District Republican organization from 1940 to 1944 and chairman of the State Central Committee from 1942 until 1953. From 1941 until his death he served on the state party's executive committee. In 1953 Pierce was elected to a two-year term as state chairman. In this conjunction he also served on the Republican National Committee, and in 1956 he was elected national committeeman. Although he continued in that post for the rest of his life, he was purged from his position on the National Committee because of his moderate Republican views when the conservative Goldwaterites achieved power in 1964.
Pierce served on the Arrangements Committee for Republican national conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. For the 1960 convention he also served as a member of the Site Selection Committee and as chairman of the subcommittee on housing. In addition he was vice-chairman of the Arrangements Committee and convention manager for the 1964 San Francisco convention. He was appointed to organize the 1968 Miami convention, an unprecedented second term, but his sudden death did not permit him to fulfill his duties.
Robert Pierce died on February 23, 1968. He was survived by his wife Lucille and two daughters.
