In memoriam: Alumnus, Professor Emeritus Frederick Meyers

The College of Engineering is saddened by the passing of alumnus and Faculty Emeritus Frederick D. “Fritz” Meyers, P.E. on December 9, 2019. He was 93.

Professor Meyers earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA in industrial management from The Ohio State University. He served as an associate professor of engineering graphics at the university from 1982 until his retirement in 2008. During this time, he held various positions, including Section Head and Chair of the Department of Engineering Graphics.

Prior to his appointment at the university, Meyers worked for thirty years as a project engineer, engineering manager and technical director with Owens-Corning Corporation. While at Owens-Corning, he contributed to the organization’s research and development efforts, directed its Energy Conservation division and served as project director for its Social Security Administration Headquarters project in Washington, D.C.

An active member of the campus community as an undergraduate, Meyers continued to serve Ohio State during his industry career as a member of the College of Engineering’s advisory committee. A keen interest in teaching, cultivated during stints as an engineering instructor at the A&M College of Texas from 1949-1952 and as a Captain and Engineering Officer in the United States Air Force from 1952-1954, brought him back to Ohio State at the conclusion of his career at Owens-Corning.

Colleagues described Meyers as an exemplary instructor. Students agreed and selected him for the college’s Charles E. MacQuigg Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1993 and 2007. Similarly, he was awarded the College of Engineering Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1994. He infused his class lectures with humor and “real world” examples from his three-decade career. In describing Professor Meyers, a former student recalled, “He would not accept your second-best effort.” Meyers took his role as mentor quite seriously, stating in a Lantern article from 1994 that “working with students one-on-one is very important. The ideal college teacher is a coach.”

Meyers co-authored two engineering textbooks and three engineering workbooks during his time at Ohio State. He also authored articles in scholarly journals as well as dozens of technical papers and reports while employed at Owens-Corning. He was an active member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) where he served as Chair of the Engineering Design Graphics division. Meyers received the Distinguished Service Award in 2006 for his significant contributions in leadership and support of the organization. He was the recipient of the Ohio Engineer of the Year award in 1972.

He advocated for the increased use of computer technology in engineering student labs and served as the faculty advisor for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honorary. His respect for the Ohio State University and service to its students stand as a lasting legacy of his distinguished career. While discussing his nomination for the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1984, Meyer summed up his motivation for service to students: “I love teaching kids,” he said.