University of North Dakota Athletics

  Pierce, a native of LaMoure, N.D., ranks as one of UND's all-time great football backs. He lettered as a Sioux quarterback and halfback in 1931-33 and was a standout sprinter on the UND track team from 1932-34. Pierce earned high academic honors while attending the University and was one of the few people at UND ever twice named to Who's Who. He was also a Rhodes Scholar candidate. After graduating in 1934 with a liberal arts degree and mathematics major he was a standout back for the Regina, Saskatchewan, Roughriders pro rugby football team four years, receiving Canadian All Pro Hockey Honors four straight years. One well-known North Dakota sportswriter called Ralph "North Dakota's greatest track athlete of the first half century."