Rio Sam Pierce Oral History

Object number2002.001.0037

Date11/06/2002

ClassificationsOral Histories

Oral history interview subject Rio Sam Pierce

Oral history interviewer Stephen Fagin

ObjectOral history

Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

MediumHi-8 videotape

DimensionsDuration: 42 Minutes

Terms

Collections

DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Rio Sam Pierce. A Dallas police officer for twenty-seven years, Pierce was in charge of basement security on the day of Lee Harvey Oswald's scheduled transfer to the Dallas County Jail. Just prior to the shooting of Oswald, Pierce drove his vehicle up the Main Street ramp at the time that some believe Jack Ruby gained access to the basement. Pierce also knew Officer J.D. Tippit for several years. Interview conducted at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza on November 6, 2002 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is forty-two minutes long.

Curatorial Commentary

Rio Sam Pierce passed away on December 23, 2015 at the age of 92. In addition to this 2002 oral history, Mr. Pierce returned to the Museum for a follow-up interview in 2011 as well as a Living History public program in 2014. The 2014 program may be viewed in full on the Museum's YouTube channel: Living History with Rio Sam Pierce - YouTube. - Stephen Fagin, Curator