Samuel L. Myers Sr. facts for kids

Samuel Lloyd Myers Sr. (born April 18, 1919 – died January 8, 2021) was an important American economist. He was also a university president, an education helper, and a champion for civil rights. One of his biggest achievements was leading the National Association for Equal Opportunity (NAFEO) for 18 years. During this time, he worked hard to make sure historically black colleges received over a billion dollars in government money. This helped these schools stay open and strong.

Early Life and Learning

Samuel Myers was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in April 1919. His parents, David and Edith Myers, were immigrants from Jamaica. He went to Fredrick Douglas High School, which was a school just for Black students at the time. Even though it was segregated, it was a very good school. Samuel graduated in 1936. While there, he was the editor of the school newspaper. He also played varsity football and was on the debate team.

Samuel first went to Morgan State College to study chemistry. But after taking time off to travel and work, he saw a lot of unfairness. He especially noticed how much poverty there was. When he returned to college, he decided to study social sciences instead. He wanted to spend his life working to fix these problems.

After getting his first degree from Morgan State, Samuel went to Boston University. There, he earned a master's degree in economics. His main paper was about "Consumers' Cooperation: A Plan for the Negro." He wrote about how working together could help African Americans. This idea could give them more power when buying things. It could also help them act together to make changes.

Facing Challenges in the Army

After college, Myers joined the Army. He was sent to a training school in Alabama. Even though he became a captain, he faced racism in the Army. He and other Black soldiers often had to clean the rooms of white soldiers. Once, he almost got into serious trouble for protesting. He was upset that Black officers were not allowed in the main officers' club. Later, he was sent to Japan. There, he guarded Japanese prisoners of war.

Studying at Harvard

After the war, Myers went to Harvard University to get his highest degree in economics. He received a special scholarship called the Julius Rosenwald Fellowship. This helped him finish his doctorate degree in 1949. At Harvard, he learned from famous economists.

His main advisor was John Kenneth Galbraith. Samuel's Ph.D. paper was about "Product Testing and Labeling with Special References to Textiles." This paper looked at how companies sometimes tricked buyers with their marketing. He focused on how products are made, sold, and used. He also looked at how to protect people who buy things. Samuel Myers was one of the first African Americans to earn a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard.

Making a Difference: His Career

Because of his studies and connections, Myers worked in many government jobs. In 1950, he became a research economist for the U.S. Department of Labor. Soon after, he became a professor at Morgan State University, his old college. He taught economics and led the Social Science Department. Many important students learned from him, including Earl G. Graves Sr., who started Black Enterprise magazine.

From 1963 to 1967, Myers worked for the government again. He was an adviser for Inter-American Affairs in the U.S. State Department.

In 1967, he became the president of Bowie State University. As president, Myers strongly supported students doing well in their classes. He would give special awards for good grades. He also made the university's courses better and helped more students enroll. He left Bowie State in 1977. Then, he became the leader of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. Later, in 1998, he led Minority Access Incorporated. This group works to make colleges and workplaces more diverse.

Student Protests at Bowie State

When Myers became president of Bowie State in 1967, students had many concerns. They felt the university did not teach enough about African American history. They also said their dorms were not good enough. Students wanted big changes in their education. They believed the state government was not paying enough attention to their needs.

The governor, Spiro Agnew, refused to meet with the students. He told them to leave the buildings or face force. But Myers was able to calm the students. He helped them focus back on their education. His wife, Marion, also helped a lot. She talked with students during the protests and invited them to their home for meals. Only a few students were arrested. The protests got national attention. The Attorney General visited the school and confirmed that some facilities were in bad condition. The protests ended in April 1968.

Helping Black Colleges: NAFEO

After leaving Bowie State College in 1977, Myers became president of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). NAFEO started in 1969. Its goal was to support historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country. Myers was president for 18 years, the longest term in the organization's history.

While in office, Myers worked hard to improve NAFEO's money situation. He also advised leaders of Black colleges. During this time, NAFEO helped 117 Black colleges and universities. They helped these schools get more funding. NAFEO also worked to help Black students find good jobs. Myers and the organization wanted to connect bright students with top companies. In 1984, NAFEO started a "Student Talent Identification Bank." This program helped match talented students from Black colleges with leaders from companies around the world. Many students got great opportunities through this program.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, fewer students were enrolling in Black colleges. Funding was a big problem. When Myers took over NAFEO, the U.S. government was deciding whether to keep funding these schools. Many people thought Black colleges were no longer needed after schools became integrated. Myers explained that people felt there was "no longer a need for Black Colleges." So, they thought giving federal money to these schools was unnecessary.

As NAFEO's president, Myers pushed the government to see why these schools were still important. He worked with lawyers and other education groups. Myers and his team convinced President Jimmy Carter to give a billion dollars to historically black colleges and universities. They also helped Congress pass a law called the Higher Education Act Title III. This law helped secure funding for these important institutions.

Personal Life

Myers lived in Bethesda, Maryland. He and his wife, Marion, had three adult children: Samuel Myers, Jr., Yvette Myers, and Judge Tama Rose Myers Clark. Myers was a lifelong member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Awards and Recognition

• 1948, Julius Rosenwald Fellowship
• 1994, National Economic Association’s Samuel Z. Westerfield Award
• Commandeur de L'Ordre National de Cote d Ivoire
• Gold Standard for members of Sigma Pi Phi