Retired Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Ira L. Myers has established an endowment for faculty development at Judson College in Marion in memory of his wife, Dorothy, and his daughter, Martha.
Dorothy Myers died in 2003 of pancreatic cancer after she and her husband celebrated 62 years of marriage. Dr. Martha Myers was killed in an attack at the Baptist hospital in Jibla, Yemen, Dec. 30, 2002.
A resolution adopted by the Judson College board of advisors noted that Dr. Martha Myers was “a woman of faith who made a difference in our broken and needy world.”
The Martha and Dorothy Myers Fund for Faculty Development at Judson will be used for faculty training, summer institutes, applied research, projects and other faculty enhancing opportunities.
Judson President David Potts said, “Dr. Ira Myers is a longtime friend of Judson College, and we are so very grateful for his influence and generosity on behalf of Christian higher education especially for women.”
Ira Myers, a native of Madison County, earned degrees from Howard College (now Samford University) and the Medical College of the University of Alabama. In 1955 he became the assistant to Alabama’s state health officer. He was elected state health officer for the state of Alabama in 1963 and served until his retirement in 1986.
Myers has been active with many organizations in his retirement including the American Cancer Society, prison ministry and as chairman of the Alabama Health Care Hall of Fame.
He serves on Judson College’s board of advisors and is a deacon in Dalraida Baptist Church, Montgomery.
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