John Ed Pearce is a Columnist and writer for the Courier–Journal magazine. He is a graduate from the  University of Kentucky; he also pursued graduate work at Columbia University and Harvard University, where he was a Nieman Fellow in 1958. Pearce started his journalism career as a reporter for Time-Life and United Press, he later edited the Somerset Journal. He joined the Courier-Journal as associate editor and editorial writer. He shared in the Pulitzer Prize won in 1967 by the Courier-Journal for its successful fight for stronger strip-mining controls. Pearce was awarded the Governor’s Medallion for public service in conservation, won the National Headliner Award, the Meeman Award, three awards from National Bar Association, and the Freedom Foundation Award. He was named Outstanding Kentucky Journalist in 1985 by the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi. Pearce published numerous articles and short stories for national magazines, a novel, a volume of history and several television plays. He served as adviser and speechwriter for four Kentucky governors and served as chairman to the State Oral History Commission. He was a Navy veteran in World War II and retired as commander.