Born on a farm near Meigs, Georgia, Pilcher attended public schools in the area.

Pilcher served as mayor and councilman of Meigs, Georgia and member of the board of education as well as county commissioner.

He served as a delegate at each State and National Democratic Convention for thirty years.

Pilcher was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of E. E. Cox.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress