Dr. Robert Edward Meyer

Robert Edward Meyer, age 91, of 1824 Wilmar Orchard, died Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Blessing Hospital.

He was born March 23, 1918 in Hannibal, Missouri the son of Samuel J. and Geneva Reib Meyer. He attended Irving Elementary and Junior High and was graduated from Quincy Senior High in 1935-37 and then worked at the Halbach-Schroeder Company for two years, serving first as office manager for the home appliance department and then as buyer for men’s furnishings.

In 1939, Meyer returned to Quincy College, graduating in 1940 with a B.S. degree. During his college years he was active in journalism. He continued to pursue advanced degrees and in 1945 was awarded a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois. He attended the College of William and Mary in the summer, 1948 and the following summer enrolled at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. He received his doctor’s degree in education from Columbia in 1958.

In 1949, Meyer organized the school community relations program for the Quincy Public Schools, serving as its first director. In 1962, he was named administrative assistant to the superintendent and two years later he was appointed assistant superintendent in charge of personnel, community relations and administrative services. In 1977 he was also placed in charge of secondary education, Dr. Meyer retired in 1981, completing 41 years in the Quincy system. He then taught Latin at Quincy College for six years.

During his long tenure in the schools he was active in educational endeavors. He served as president of the Quincy Education Association, vice president of the Quincy Federation of Teachers and Chairman of its school board election committee. He was state chairman of the Teacher Welfare and Ethics Commission of the Illinois Education Association and served on the I.E.A. board for several years. He was a delegate three times to the annual convention of the National Education Association of which he was a life member. He also served on the legislative committee of the Illinois Association of School Administrators.

In1958, Meyer received the gold key award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York for outstanding service as faculty adviser to the school newspaper, Junior Hi-Lights. In 1980 Dr. Meyer was commencement speaker at Quincy College and received an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy degree. Quincy College named him “Alumnus of the Year” in 1989.

In 1993 Dr. Meyer received the Enid Ireland Award for outstanding contribution to the Quincy Community Theatre. He has served as local coordinator for the Citizen Lobby, Common Cause, edited copy for the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, and regularly read news to residents of Good Samaritan Home.

In addition to his educational endeavors, he took an active part in community life. He served 14 years as a member of the Library Board, two terms as president of the Quincy Community Little Theatre, and one term as president of the Adams County Retired Teachers Association. Dr. Meyer was chairman of the Presidents Forum at Quincy College for four years and was also on the Board of Associates at the College. He was co-chairman of the United Way drive and served as chairman of the Welfare Council.

Other organizations with which he was affiliated include the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Council on Human Relations, the Adams County Chapter of the American Heart Association and Quincy Kiwanis Club.

He has been a life-long member of Temple B’ Nai Sholom and served several terms on the board of trustees.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Max Meyer and a sister, Naomi Meyer.

Services: 2:00 pm Friday, March 12, 2010 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with the Rabbai Samuel Rose-Carmack officiating. Burial will be in Valley of Peace Cemetery.

Visitation: 4 to 6 pm Thursday at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

Memorials: Quincy Public Schools Foundation, Quincy University or B’Nai Sholom Temple

Website: www.hansenspear.com

Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.