Jack Elliott Myers

Jack Elliott Myers

Jack Myers Reading
Born November 29, 1941(1941-11-29)
Lynn, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States
Died November 23, 2009(2009-11-23) (aged 67)
Occupation poet, professor, editor, writer
Literary movement New American Poets Modernism
Notable work(s) As Long As You're Happy

Jack Elliott Myers (November 29, 1941 - November 23, 2009), was an American poet and educator. He was Texas Poet Laureate in 2003, and served on the faculty of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas for more than 30 years. He was director of creative writing at SMU from 2001 through 2009. Myers co-founded The Writer's Garret,[1] a nonprofit literary center in Dallas, with his wife, Thea Temple. He published numerous books of and about poetry, and served as a mentor for aspiring writers at SMU and as part of the writers' community and mentoring project of The Writer's Garret.

Contents

Early life

Jack Myers was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to Jewish parents, Alvin G. and Ruth L. Myers, and developed an interest in writing and poetry at a young age. In his twenties he worked many odd jobs to support his self-directed study of poetry.

Early career

In 1968 Jack Myers married his first wife, Nancy Leppert, and a year later they had a son. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts in 1970. After finishing his degree, he moved his family to Iowa where he was accepted into the famed Iowa Writers Workshop. He became friends with his professor, Dick Hugo, whom he later honored with the Festschrift, A Trout in the Milk: a Composite Portrait of Richard Hugo, in 1980.

His second son was born in Iowa in 1972.

Later career

After obtaining his Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry Writing, Jack moved his family to Dallas, Texas, in 1975 when Jack was hired as an Assistant Professor of English at Southern Methodist University.

In 1981 Jack became a "Field Faculty" member of Vermont College, and in June of that year married his second wife, Willa Robins. This union produced two children.

In 1981 he also became the Program Chair of SMU's English Department and served on many committees. During this time he wrote hundreds of poems; edited anthologies; published The Longman Dictionary of Poetic Terms, a chapbook, and two collections of poetry. One of these, As Long As You're Happy, won the 1985 National Poetry Series (selected by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney).

In 1993, Jack met his third wife, Thea Temple, at an AWP conference in Norfolk, Virginia. They were married six months later. This union led to a literary partnership and the most productive period of Jack's life, including the founding of the non-profit literary center, The Writer's Garret[1], in Dallas, Texas.

Final Years

From 1993 until his death he published nine books about poetry, taught at six universities, chaired the board of The Writer's Garret, directed the creative writing program at SMU, appeared on radio and television talking about writing and poetry, edited magazines, and founded the Writers' Community and Mentorship Project (CAMP). He also won awards for his writing and teaching.

Jack was named the Poet Laureate for the State of Texas in 2003, and the City of Mesquite, Texas honored him with "Jack Myers Day." [2]

Video

Appearances

Books

Winner of the l985 National Poetry Series Open Competition (Selected by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney)

Essays and Poems in Anthologies, Textbooks, and Recordings

References

  1. ^ "www.smu.edu/News/2009/jack-myers-dmn-30nov2009.aspx". http://www.smu.edu/News/2009/jack-myers-dmn-30nov2009.aspx. 
  2. ^ "SMU's native New Englander named Texas literary rep". Southern Methodist University Forum. http://smu.edu/forum/030428-1.html. Retrieved December 20, 2009. 
  3. ^ "SMU English Department Jack Myers". Southern Methodist University. http://smu.edu/english/People/FacultyProfiles/Myers.htm. Retrieved December 20, 2009. 
  4. ^ "Expressions of a Poet". Southern Methodist University. http://smu.edu/graduate/magazine/2006/ExpressionsOfAPoet.asp. Retrieved December 20, 2009. 
  5. ^ "SMU English Department Jack Myers". Southern Methodist University. http://smu.edu/english/People/FacultyProfiles/Myers.htm. Retrieved December 20, 2009. 
  6. ^ "SMU English Department Jack Myers". Southern Methodist University. http://smu.edu/english/People/FacultyProfiles/Myers.htm. Retrieved December 20, 2009. 
  7. ^ "SMU English Department Jack Myers". Southern Methodist University. http://smu.edu/english/People/FacultyProfiles/Myers.htm. Retrieved December 20, 2009.