Former Chancellor Jim Meyer Dies

Dr. James H. Meyer, professor emeritus of Animal Science and chancellor emeritus of the UC Davis campus, died on October 12, 2002, at age 80. 

Jim, as he was known to many, grew up on a wheat and livestock farm in Idaho and obtained a B.S. degree in agriculture at the University of Idaho in 1947, following service from 1943 to 1946 as a first lieutenant in the US Marines. He then completed M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in animal nutrition at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and was appointed as Instructor in the then Animal Husbandry department at Davis in 1951. He quickly developed an active research program and a reputation as an excellent teacher. He was always interested in establishing general principles and in 1961 became one of the youngest scientists to receive the American Feed Manufacturers Award for Research in Animal Nutrition, the highest award in the field given by the American Society of Animal Science. He was cited for basic research studies ranging from fiber utilization by the rat to the influence of pelleting of ruminant diets on nutritional value. His method of evaluating alfalfa, one of California's most important agricultural crops, has been widely adopted. A 1959 paper by W. N. Garrett, J. H. Meyer and G. P. Lofgreen was the initial publication that led to a net energy system of feed evaluation. The paper made Science Citation Index's list of most frequently cited scientific publications.

Jim was appointed as department chair in 1960. He was responsible for initiating Dairy Day, Feeders' Day and other comparable programs to communicate the department's research results to potential users including producers and Farm Advisors. He also initiated events such as a senior dinner to improve communication with the department's students. His commitment to students was a feature of his administrative career over the following 24 years and into retirement. 

Jim was appointed dean of the College of Agriculture in 1963. He stimulated a thorough overhaul of the undergraduate curriculum, including establishing a new major—Agricultural Science and Management (now Animal Science and Management)—and other successful programs. During his tenure as dean, undergraduate enrollment in the college doubled. He was proud to be responsible for changing the name of the college to Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and for establishing the Academic Federation to provide a forum and voice for academic appointees who were not members of the Academic Senate.  

Jim's 18 years as chancellor represented a period of remarkable campus growth and many notable achievements, including acquisition of the UC Medical Center in Sacramento, creation of the School of Management, and construction of Recreation Hall without state funds. His record as chancellor has been extensively chronicled elsewhere. 

When he retired as chancellor, Jim returned to the Animal Science Department and came to work daily until early in the last year of his life. A particular interest during this time was Land Grant universities, or to use his term, institutions of higher learning whose roots were in agriculture. He documented their history and achievements, assessed their current status and, most importantly, suggested changes they needed to make if they were to remain relevant in a rapidly changing society. He continually stressed the need for these institutions to serve and obtain support from a broader clientele than had been their tradition. 

During this time Jim also made important contributions to the Animal Science Department. He was instrumental in getting approval for the department, with its large student enrollment, to have a special campaign within the campus Students First fundraising program. He chaired the departmental effort, which brought in more than $150,000 for support of undergraduate and graduate students. He followed up on a long-term interest by helping obtain approval of a professional Master's degree program, the Master of Agriculture and Management, and he chaired the committee that recruited the first director. He helped establish the Animal Science Development Board, whose members continue to provide valuable support for the department. His counsel was sought and given generously on many issues. 

The Meyer family has asked that donations be made in Jim's memory to establish a student award. Checks should be made to the “UC Regents” and sent to the Department of Animal Science.