Walter M. Pierce

Walter M. Pierce
17th Governor of Oregon
In office January 8, 1923 – January 10, 1927
Preceded by	Ben W. Olcott
Succeeded by	I. L. Patterson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943
Preceded by	Robert R. Butler
Succeeded by	Lowell Stockman
Member of the Oregon State Senate
In office 1917–1921
In office 1903–1907
Personal details
Born	Walter Marcus Pierce (1861-05-30)May 30, 1861 Morris, Illinois, U.S.
Died	March 27, 1954(1954-03-27) (aged 92) Salem, Oregon, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Clara Rudio Pierce (died, 1890) Laura Rudio Pierce (died, 1925) Cornelia Marvin Pierce
Alma mater	Northwestern University (LLB)
Profession	Lawyer

Walter Marcus Pierce (May 30, 1861 – March 27, 1954) was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 2nd congressional district. A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House. Pierce was an anti-Catholic supporter of compulsory public education and signed a law banning parochial schools, resulting in lawsuits and the United States Supreme Court case of Pierce v. Society of Sisters. He was also a eugenicist and supported Prohibition. He advocated unsuccessfully for a state income tax and vehicle license fee.