Larry Pierce (figure skater)

Larry Pierce
Larry Pierce
Full name	Dallas Larry Pierce
Born	1937; Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Died	February 15, 1961 (age 24); Berg-Kampenhout,; Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Figure skating career
Country	United States

Dallas "Larry" Pierce (1937 – February 15, 1961) was an American

ice dancer. He was the 1961 U.S. national champion with Diane Sherbloom

.

Life and career

Born to Dallas and Nellie Pierce, Larry Pierce had an elder sister, Jan, and younger brother, Russell.

Indianapolis, Indiana

. He wore dark-rimmed glasses, even on the ice, and was known among friends for his sense of humor.

After graduating from high school, he was partnered with

Cobourg, Ontario, and Lake Placid, New York, during summers.^[1] Competing on the senior level, they won the silver medal at the 1960 U.S. Championships and placed fifth at the 1960 World Championships. Meeker broke her ankle in training in December 1960, six weeks before the 1961 U.S. Championships.^[4]

Ryan asked Diane Sherbloom, who had not intended to compete that season, to skate with Pierce, and Pierce's parents succeeded in persuading Sherbloom's.^[1]^[5] Sherbloom/Pierce won the gold medal at Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and were named in the U.S. team to the 1961 World Championships. En route to the event, their plane, Sabena Flight 548, crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing all on board. Pierce was 24 at the time of his death.^[5]

He is buried at Washington Park East Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.