On Thursday, former Arizona State Sen. Russell Pearce passed away at the age of 75 after coming down with an illness earlier in the week.
“He lived a life of service to God, family, and country. He loved us, and we loved him dearly,” the Pearce family said in a statement.
A 5th generation Arizonan, Pearce served in the National Guard during the Vietnam War and later became a deputy with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He eventually became Chief Deputy to Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
He served as Director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division where he improved both morale and efficiency and created what later became ServiceArizona.com.
Sen. Pearce served in the State House (2001-2008) and then in the State Senate where he was elected President by his peers.
He wrote and led the passage of a number of historic and important bills. While the media knows him best for SB1070, he helped pass Constitutional Carry, which gave Arizona the best gun rights laws in America. He also helped then-State Representative Steve Montenegro eliminate affirmative action in Arizona hiring and education alongside Ward Connerly. He also fought for tax cuts, school choice, marriage, parental rights, and much more.
Later in life, he served as served as Chief Deputy Treasurer to Maricopa County Treasurer Royce Flora.
While a deputy Sheriff, Pearce was shot in the chest, but continued his pursuit of several gang members. His actions earned him the Medal of Valor, the department’s highest honor. Notably, his son Sean was also awarded a Medal of Valor from the same department after he was shot serving a homicide warrant.
He was a loving father of five and helped raise several of his grandchildren as well.