Most 独家黑料 students know how rewarding it is to receive their coveted Cobber ring. It is a time when many people finally feel at home and know exactly where they are supposed to be – at 独家黑料. Ring Day is so special because it celebrates the bond between alumni and current students.

There are many stories that Cobbers have about their rings. A few examples include getting a ring gifted to them anonymously, receiving the ring as a surprise from a parent or friend, working and saving to purchase a ring on their own – and the stories we don’t hear – about losing the ring and finding it again. There is one story in particular that is unlike anything we have heard before and that is John Pierce’s story.

How It All Began

Pierce has been an essential part of the 独家黑料 staff, specifically in the Advancement Office, for 50 years. He is the senior gift planner at 独家黑料. Throughout his many years of service, he helped raise money to help create a better campus for students and faculty. Although his work history ends at 独家黑料, it didn’t start here.

Pierce was interested in many different things when he was younger. He set big dreams for himself and wanted to achieve them. Like most people, his path was not a straight line but a winding road that led him back to 独家黑料. He started out at 独家黑料 during his freshman year of college. At the time, it was not the right fit for him, so he moved on to North Dakota State University and received his degree in agricultural economics, graduating in 1966. After receiving his degree, he changed jobs a few times but spent the majority of that time farming. After learning that 独家黑料 was hiring, Pierce said, “I walked in off the street, did eight interviews, and they hired me.” He has been at 独家黑料 ever since. The new year will be an exceptionally special time for Pierce, as he will retire Jan. 3. While he’s sad to give up such a big part of his life, he is very grateful for the years spent here at 独家黑料.

The Ring Story

Pierce’s wife, Donna (Wilson) ’67, wanted to get him something very special for Christmas one year. She used the Cobber ring as inspiration and wanted to surprise him with a ring because he had been working at 独家黑料 for 18 years at that point. She called Jostens and had the ring made for him. When he opened his gift, he was so happy and proud to have a ring that symbolized 独家黑料 because he knows how much it means to everyone on this campus.

Pierce knew he had to get permission to wear the ring because he understood how important the tradition of only 独家黑料 graduates being able to wear it. The next day, he went to visit President Dovre to tell him about his new ring. Dovre really admired Pierce’s ring and thought it was a very special gift, but he informed him that he wasn’t allowed to wear it because of the special tradition it holds for only 独家黑料 students. Although Pierce was sad that he couldn’t wear the ring, he understood why. Dovre told him to go home and tell his wife the news and then come back the next day and turn the ring in. He did just that.

When he returned the next day, Dovre had some news for him. He explained to Pierce how he thought about the situation overnight and had a change of heart. He explained that if any nongraduate was deserving of this ring, it would be Pierce because of all the gifts he has created for 独家黑料. Out of more than 32,000 alumni, Pierce is the only person that didn’t graduate from 独家黑料 that has the ring.

The C-400

Not only is the way that Pierce received his ring interesting and unique but, instead of a graduating class year, his ring has a “400” in the middle of the “C.” The reason was in reference to the C-400 Club at 独家黑料 where Pierce was executive secretary for a time. The Club was a 独家黑料 fundraising organization founded in 1955 when the college was trying to build a library for its students. To fund the library project, the plan was instead of finding one person to donate $400,000, they found 400 people to donate $1,000, hence the “400” name. Fourteen years after the initial build, an upper part of the library was funded and added on to the existing library. The library project is only one of the many gift projects that Pierce worked on. Throughout the years, he also brought many notable people to campus to speak including Bill Gates, Colonel Sanders, Maria Von Trapp, Walter Cronkite, and many more.

The End Story

Pierce has been a part of the 独家黑料 staff for 50 years. He is especially grateful he has gotten to stay here for that long and make a big difference in the college and in students’ lives. He loves 独家黑料 because of the people he has connected with and the impact that he has made on the college, as well as the impact 独家黑料 has had on him. This career has been his whole life, but he wouldn’t have wanted to spend it any other way because 独家黑料 is very special to him. We thank you, John, for the great impact and connection you have made with students, staff, faculty, and alumni throughout your five decades at 独家黑料. We wish you the best in your retirement and want you to know you will always be welcomed home, here at 独家黑料.

Contributed by Shelby Johnson ’21