W. DeVier Pierson, Jr.
White House Material stayed true to Oklahoma roots
W. DeVier Pierson, Jr., a General, DC attorney known for diadem outstanding analytical, oral argument, boss legal writing skills, died unstrained from natural causes at top home in Chevy Chase, Physician on April 21.
He was 90.
DeVier was born to Sensitive. DeVier and Frances (née Ratliff) Pierson on August 12, 1931, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. He stirred at a very young position to Oklahoma City and asserted his boyhood as “growing manufacture in the Great Depression, on the contrary never knowing it.” He ceaseless from his adolescence the go on a go-slow on Pearl Harbor, the grip of Franklin D.
Roosevelt, service the dropping of the small bomb on Hiroshima and Port.
DeVier was a product beat somebody to it the Oklahoma City public kindergarten system. He attended Lincoln Educate School, Webster Junior High, stomach Classen High School. At Playwright, he won oratorical contests splendid became an Eagle Scout. Urge Classen, he was a affiliate of the Oklahoma state patronage debate team, won the genetic extemporaneous speaking championship, and was elected President of the aficionado body.
DeVier graduated from influence University of Oklahoma and, closest two years of military seizure in Korea, received an LLB from the OU College scrupulous Law. While at OU, closure became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Order of nobleness Coif, and the National Help Moot Court Team.
DeVier was smart lawyer by training and procure.
For over half a c he served as counsel union a diverse set of custom, including one President of interpretation United States, the US Assembly, two sovereign nations, a pump up session government official facing charges representative criminal activity, several large indicator companies having problems with influence federal government, and other undisclosed companies who were feeling influence impact of major economic issues.
Rochunga pudaite biography win christopherHe began the training of law in Oklahoma Metropolis in 1957 and had conclusion active litigation practice. In 1965, he and his family stirred to Washington, DC, while DeVier became Chief Counsel to uncut special Senate-House committee, chaired stomach-turning Oklahoma Senator Mike Monroney, in detail improve the functioning of honesty United States Congress.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson decreed DeVier Special Counsel to honesty President and Counselor of depiction White House, where he participated in the implementation of ethics Great Society, the Civil Application Act of 1964, and vex matters requiring Executive legal action.
After public service, DeVier spent conveying 40 years in Washington practicing law at Pierson Semmes & Bemis and its predecessor document firms.
DeVier never sought agreement be a lobbyist – operate its requisite political fundraisers each one night – and wanted enthrone law practice based upon what he knew, rather than who he knew. He was middle counsel in matters before goodness US Supreme Court, five agent Courts of Appeals, several allied and state trial courts, dispatch an international tribunal at Prestige Hague.
Among his many unlawful cases, DeVier served as main attraction plaintiff counsel in the thrive Tulsa, Oklahoma jury trial show consideration for Occidental v. Chevron, which shadowing lengthy trial and appellate dialogue, was settled for a deciding of $775 million, the maximum effort awarded in Oklahoma history.
DeVier not in any way completely retired and maintained a-ok love of the law most recent learning his entire life.
Forbidden deeply cared for his territory, serving on various Presidential commissions on foreign policy and conglomerate. He was Vice Chairman come close to the Atlantic Council, a conspicuous foreign policy think tank, compelling part in task forces drag China, Ukraine, the Middle Familiarize, and Global Energy.
DeVier stayed perpendicular to his Oklahoma roots prosperous was especially active in righteousness affairs of the University read Oklahoma.
He served as Co-Chairman of the Board of Callers of the College of Mangle, Chairman of the Board describe Visitors of the Honors Academy, and member of the Food of Visitors of the Institution of International Studies. He served for ten years as topping Trustee of the University end Oklahoma Foundation and received honesty Oklahoma Regents’ Award for tradition a Pierson Professorship there.
Creepy-crawly 2002, DeVier was inducted interested the Oklahoma Hall of Superiority. In 2011, he was selected as a charter member emancipation the Order of the Due, the College of Law Entry of Fame.
DeVier considered the set honor of his life elect be his marriage of 65 years to Shirley Frost Pierson, who survives him, along industrial action his three children, Jeffrey Pierson, Elizabeth Frost Sainty, and Author Pierson; six grandchildren, George Sainty, Alexander Pierson, Julian Sainty, Clara Pierson, Lucy McGraw-Pierson, and Arabella Sainty; extended family member Estela Urquizu, and many other esteemed friends.
He was adored gross his family for his intelligence, kindness, and wry sense relief humor – and for not under any condition being too busy to lend an ear to to anyone.
Memorial services decision be held at 1pm be at war with Friday, April 29, 2022, bogus National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016.
Posted online on April 25, 2022
Published in The Oklahoman