Effort benefits graduate students

Sue Zyhowski

Jean and Phil Myers of Middleton have been married for more than 61 years, long enough that they finish one another’s sentences with ease. Their accomplishments at UW–Madison are numerous, and yet they continue to seek ways to help the university and its graduate students.

Professor Emeritus Phil Myers came to Madison in 1942 when he accepted a teaching position in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering. World War II was raging and teachers were scarce, so Phil, who had undergraduate degrees in math and mechanical engineering from McPherson College and Kansas State University, respectively, studied for his master’s and doctoral degrees at night, while he taught undergraduate students during the day.

Jean earned her master’s here in home economics in 1947.

For 43 years, Phil held a joint appointment, sharing graduate students with faculty member Otto Uyehara, while conducting research in thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid flow phenomena, which led to the creation of the Engine Research Center in the College of Engineering.

Jean, along with Otto’s wife, Chisako, nurtured and encouraged the more than 125 graduate students their husbands shared over the course of their careers. They introduced foreign students and their families to their new culture by hosting holiday dinners and summer picnics.

A $1 million gift from the couple established the Phil and Jean Myers Professorship, now held by David Foster, as well as two graduate fellowships and other support in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The Myers later created the Jean Alford Myers Award in the School of Human Ecology to provide resources for the dean to send graduate students to professional conferences, help cope with family emergencies or offer recognition. This year, they made a gift to fund the renovation projects at the School of Human Ecology.