Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr.: What happened to Pam Grier’s father?

Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr. is the father of Pam Grier. Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr.’s daughter is a popular American actress and singer. she achieved fame for her starring roles in a string of 1970s action movies. Her accolades include nominations for an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Satellite Award, and a Saturn Award.

Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr.: Bio Summary

Clarence Ransom Grier was born to Otis C Luke and Veola (Battle) Luke, and was buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery Section 30 Site 169 4400 West Kenyon Avenue, in Denver, Colorado according to Acientface. However, the exact date on which he was born has not been made public. Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr. gained much of her fame from being the father of Pam Grier.

Pam Grier’s father was a Soldier

Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr., worked as a mechanic and technical sergeant in the United States Air Force. Clarence was in the Air Force and worked on B-52 bombers. He was with the Lowry Air Force Base. Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr. was married to Gwendolyn Grier who was a nurse and also a homemaker. Clarence and his wife Gwendolyn had three children- including Pam. The other two children are  Gina Grier-Townsie and Rodney Grier.

ALSO, READ; Gwendolyn Grier: What happened to Pam Grier’s mother?

Because of his military career, the family moved frequently during Grier’s childhood. In 1956, they relocated to Swindon in South West England, United Kingdom, where her father worked on an airforce base. Pam told WSJ recalling her childhood memories- ” We moved every two years until I was 12. I enjoyed the moves. Each trip was an adventure, with new friends, new food, and new culture.”

By Pam’s account, hers was one of the only black families in town, though she recalled that they faced no racism or segregation compared to that in the United States: “They didn’t care that I was black since they hadn’t been raised to hate blacks. Instead, they’d been raised to hate Germans… In the U.S., especially in the South, we were never able to get buses to stop for us, we couldn’t eat in certain restaurants, couldn’t use certain bathrooms. Up until 1969, there were department stores in which my father and I weren’t even allowed to try on clothing.”

ALSO, READ; Gina Grier-Townsie: Who is Pam Grier’s sister?

After staying in Swindon, England, Clarence once again moved the family to the United States in 1958, when he was transferred to California’s Travis Air Force Base, eventually settling in Denver, Colorado, near Lowry Air Force Base. Pam Grier told WSJ- “In 1958, my dad was transferred to California’s Travis Air Force Base. One of his military buddies gave me karate lessons to help my shyness.”

According to Pam, she spent part of her upbringing on her maternal grandparents’ sugar beet farm in rural Wyoming, where their ancestors had homesteaded after fleeing west via the Underground Railroad to escape slavery. In 1962, Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr. retired from the Air Force and divorced his wife Gwendolyn Grier. Pam recalled in an interview- “In 1962, my father retired from the Air Force. But without his uniform, he became a lost soul and my parents divorced.“