Jack Myers, professor of English at Southern Methodist University and Texas Poet Laureate for 2003-2004, passed away on November 23. Jack won the Writers’ League’s 2001 Violet Crown Book Award for The Glowing River: New & Selected Poems. He was also the chairman of the Writer’s Garret in Dallas, which he co-founded with his wife, Thea Temple.
The Writers’ League sends our condolences to Jack’s family and the Writer’s Garret.
Here’s more on Jack:
Jack Myers
A Life Lived in the World of Words
JACK MYERS, Professor of English and creative writing at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, was the author of eighteen books of and about poetry. His most recent collections included Routine Heaven; the college textbook, The Poet’s Portable Workshop; and The Glowing River: New & Selected Poems, winner of the 2001 Violet Crown Award for “Best Literary” book in Texas. Other popular titles were OneOnOne; Blindsided (winner of the 1993 Texas Institute of Letters Award–his second TIL); and an anthology of contemporary poetry co-edited with Roger Weingarten, New American Poets. Jack’s many honors included two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts; multiple university residencies; 1st place in the National Poetry Series; and selection as the 2003-04 Poet Laureate of Texas. Jack served as the co-Vice-President for Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) from 1993-95, as well as Chairman of The Writer’s Garret, a Dallas literary center founded by his wife Thea Temple. Jack’s writing lives on, seeking to discover the extraordinary within the ordinary by fusing Eastern influences to Jungian psychology, while being grounded in an ironic humor and working class sensibility.
Jack passed away, peacefully, Monday evening in his home at 11:39 PM. The family asks that no flowers be sent, and instead, donations be made to The Writer’s Garret in accordance with Jack’s wishes, as Jack really truly was its co-founder, although he frequently gave all of the credit to others. The Garret’s many programs sprang naturally from his vigilant work, genius, generosity, talent, passion, and connections. Donations can be made by calling Grace at (214) 828-1715, sending a check to P.O. Box 140530 / Dallas, TX 75214-0530, or hitting this link.
Here’s a link to more on the Writers’ Garret Web site.
