Learned a lot from B.J. Pierce

Editor's note: Rodeo legend B.J. Pierce, 93, died Dec. 26. He was a three-time world champion calf roper and was inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame in 2015. But many area residents remember him more for the three-plus decades he spent as an educator.

I don't know what year B.J. Pierce went to work at Highland Elementary School, but I started first grade in 1957 and I don't remember a time when he was not there.

On many occasions I felt the discipline and correction of this man. But on lots of other occasions, I also learned much from him.

He liked me. I don't know why, but he had a passion for teaching a kid who didn't like school.

As an adult, I remember eating lunch with him when he was in his 80s we had a good talk. I saw him frequently and even visited him in his home several times. I told him he had given me more whippings with a belt than both of my parents put together. His reply to me was, "Did you need them?"

He never whipped me out of anger or frustration. He whipped me to teach me what I needed to learn.

On his 80th birthday, I visited him at his home and gave him a new belt. I told him I figured he wore out at least one on me. We laughed and talked about the good old days.

When I talked too much during lunch in school, he would have me get up and sing a song on the stage where he sat. If you tried to tell him you didn't know a song, he would say everyone knows "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," and you would sing it.

I made a mistake one time of singing, "In 1814 we took a little trip." From then on that was the song he had me sing.

Sometimes he had me get up and sing it even when I was not misbehaving - simply because he was teaching me not to have stage fright.

What I really hated was when I had to sit on his knee and "ride a horse to town." Talk about shame. Some of you know what this was. (I wasn't the only kid he cared about.)

Inside or outside the classroom he was teaching. Some of the things were simple but important. We had no idea that he was grooming us for the future.

He taught you to look a man in the eye, shake his hand, tip your hat to a lady, and always respect your elders. He taught us the importance of placing our hands over our heart while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or hearing the National Anthem. He taught us to take off our hats and bow our heads during the prayer.

He taught us sportsmanship on the playground and to always try your best. He insisted that you try your best in everything you did.

I think I was a good challenge for him in this area.

The most important things he taught us were taught by example. He would never ask you to do something he wouldn't. He cared.

I will miss my friend for the rest of my life, but I will never forget the things he did for me.

You see, not only did he like me, I liked him.

Don Reid is a lifelong Clovis resident and author of the book "Viet Nam: One Man's Story."