The U.S. Marshals Service Mourns the Death of Former U.S. Marshal John Pierpont

Springfield, MO – Former U.S. Marshal and longtime Greene County Sheriff John Pierpont passed away on Tuesday.

John T. Pierpont (1929-2021) was appointed the 24th United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri on February 6, 1970. Pierpont served as U.S. Marshal until May 14, 1974. In 1980, Pierpont was elected Greene County Sheriff—a position he held until his retirement in 2000.

"I first met John Pierpont when I was a young Missouri State Trooper stationed in Springfield," reflected current U.S. Marshal Mark James, "Little did I imagine I would someday serve as the United States Marshal of the Western District of Missouri—just as he did. Whether Sheriff or Marshal, John Pierpont devoted a life to law enforcement. Our prayers go out to his family."

The office of U.S. Marshal was created by the first Congress in the Judiciary Act of 1789, the same legislation that established the Federal judicial system. U.S. Marshals are given extensive authority to support the federal courts within their judicial districts and to carry out all lawful orders issued by judges, Congress, or the president.